CHAPTER II:

As soon as Punky heard those words, her eyes and mouth widened almost as much as TC's, if not more. That's because the guy she was talking to was TC Finestra, someone she hadn't seen in well over 20 years. It seemed like only yesterday that he was a scared, lonely kid living on the streets, surviving on food scraps, and stealing for this thug named Blade. One night, he happened to be sneaking into Punky's bedroom window, and she happened to have caught him in the act of stealing the jewelry box her mother had given her. In some weird, messed-up way, that was the best thing that could've happened, because shortly thereafter, he went to live at Fenster Hall.

Okay, back to the supermarket. "Oh, my God, TC!" Punky exclaimed once she found her voice. Immediately, she threw her arms around him. "How are you?"

"I've been doing okay," he said as he returned the warm embrace. "You?"

"Oh, I can't really complain," she answered. "Wow, you look great!"

"Thanks; so do you," TC smiled. "I see you're still mismatching your shoes."

"Yes, old habits die hard," Punky agreed. "So, what have you been doing lately? I haven't seen you since the auction at Fenster Hall."

"Well, for starters, I'm still there. Remember Mike Fulton?"

"I sure do," Punky grinned. "He was my fourth-grade teacher."

"No kidding?"

"Yup."

"Well, I'm doing the job he had when I first came to Fenster. When I was a junior in college, Mike put in a good word for me, and I started my internship there after I graduated."

"That's great!" Punky exclaimed. "How's that been going for you?"

"It's a really good job and the pay's not too bad, either," TC answered. Then he glanced over his shoulder. "Uh, say, I think we better get a move-on now. We're holding up the line."

"Good idea." And with that, they made their way to the door.

"You know, I was just wondering," TC said as they got outside. "How long a walk to you have to get home? It's pretty snowy out here."

"Oh, I usually take the El. Why?"

"I noticed how much groceries you have with you, and with this snow and everything, I'd sure hate for you to slip and drop everything. I could give you a lift."

"Really? Wow, thanks!"

"No problem. I'm parked right over there."

TC motioned toward a bluish-green Jeep parked beside the shopping cart rack. "I've only got two more payments to make on this," he said as he unlocked the back hatch. "With any luck, I'll have it paid off by St. Patrick's Day."

"Cool. Think you'll drive it in the parade this year?"

"If it was the right shade of green, I would," TC said as he helped Punky put the last of her groceries in the Jeep. "Uh, say, this may seem a bit forward, but—um, well..."

"Yeah?"

"You hungry?"

"Well—yeah, kind of," Punky confessed as she put the cart in the rack. "Are you asking me to have dinner with you?"

"Well—yeah, I guess I am," TC answered.

For a minute, neither of them said a word. After all, this was the same TC who broke into her room and robbed her. Not only that, when she invited him back to have dinner with her and Henry, let's just say he could've had better manners.

"Sure," Punky finally said. "I mean, I do have some cleaning to do at my place, but I guess it can wait. And I didn't buy anything that can spoil."

"Okay, great," TC smiled. "Oh, in case you're wondering, I promise not to wolf it all down in one sitting."

"Deal," Punky laughed, and they both got in the Jeep. As they pulled out of the parking lot, they were both probably thinking the same thing: like the song says, "Small world, isn't it?"

About half an hour or so later, Punky and TC were sitting by one of the big bay windows at Wendy's, and enjoying their dinner. She had a single-cheese combo with lettuce, mayonnaise, tomato and onion and a medium Coke, and he had a junior bacon cheeseburger with everything and a medium iced tea. And as promised, he wasn't eating like every bite was his last.

"So, how's life been treating you?" Punky asked as she took a sip of her Coke.

"Okay, for the most part," TC said. "You know, I see kids with all kinds of problems, and from all kinds of bad situations, and in a way, I see myself."

"I think I know what you mean. I remember when I first came to Fenster Hall. Lemme tell you, I was so scared. I thought for sure I'd never see Henry again."

TC thought for a minute. "Oh, yeah," he remembered. "The guy who made those potatoes."

"Yup, that's the one," Punky nodded. "You know, I never would've gotten where I am now if it wasn't for him."

"He sounds like a great guy," TC commented. "Have you talked to him lately?"

Upon hearing that question, Punky sadly looked down at the table.

"What's wrong?"

"He died," Punky said softly. "When I was in college."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"I'd just finished taking my finals when it happened," Punky continued. "When I went back to my dorm, there was a message on the answering machine from Cherie. She said she was with him when he went."

TC cleared his throat. "I'm sorry to hear that," he said gently.

"Thanks," Punky said as she managed to pull herself together. "I still miss him to this day. In fact, that's why I got this." She pulled up her right sleeve, and there it was, on her forearm, in Old English lettering: HENRY.

"Wow," TC commented. "Didn't that hurt?"

"Only for a second. But you know, just thinking about all the good memories helped a lot. And it still does."

"Boy, I could never get a tattoo. I can't even stand the thought of getting a flu shot. Imagine, a tough guy like me being afraid of shots."

"Just because you're afraid doesn't mean you're not tough."

"You know, that's what Mike said when he put me in the Hot Box."

"The what?" Punky asked in surprise, which gave TC a bit of a laugh.

"It's okay," he reassured her. "It's this activity he invented to help the new kids talk about what's bothering them. In fact, that's how I talk to them now, and believe me, it works."

"Really?"

"Oh, yeah," TC nodded. "That's how Mike got me to talk about my folks."

"Where are they?"

Now it was TC's turn to look sad. "Well, for starters, my mom died when I was born," he said. "And my dad—well, let's just say he was never the same after that. He spent more time drinking than trying to hold down a job, and he blamed me for her death. He used to tell me I should've died instead of her."

"Oh, my God," Punky whispered.

"One day when I was six, I came home from school, and the trailer we were living in was gone," TC went on. "He just took off. No warning, no reason, no goodbye. I haven't seen him since then."

"Oh, TC," Punky said sympathetically, putting a hand on his arm. "I'm so sorry. That must've been horrible for you."

"I'll say," he agreed. "You know, if it hadn't been for you and Mike, I'd probably be in jail or dead right now. You guys saved my life."

As soon as TC said that, a warm feeling came over Punky. "That's so nice of you to say," she said.

"Thanks," TC smiled. After taking the last bite of his cheeseburger, he continued, "You know, Punky, I never got a chance to tell you this, but I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am for stealing your jewelry box."

"It's okay," Punky said. "I know you were only doing what that slimeball Blade told you to do."

"You should've been there when Mike ran him off at the auction. He was great."

"I heard you were, too, they way you kept the money after he ran off with the cash box."

"Oh, yeah," TC grinned. "God, I would've done anything to see him find that the box was empty. I heard he threw it down and broke his toe with it."

They both cracked up when TC brought it up. "I wish I could've seen that, too!" Punky gasped. "You know, Henry always said it just goes to show you that it doesn't pay to be a crook."

"You got that right," TC laughed. After they calmed down, he said, "Well, I think it's time I took you home now."

Punky glance d out the window. "Good idea," she agreed. "It's getting dark out there."

They got up from the table, threw their trash away and headed out the door.