A/N Thank you for all the kind words about Vin! I promise you'll get more insight to her character soon.
1 in 7 people are hungry.
⅓ of food is WASTED.
Approximately 9 million people die of world hunger each year.
Poverty is the number one cause of world hunger.
Bringing in all this soda from my car almost turns into me pulling my back trying to show off my strength. Thankfully, I don't. Fuck, I'm out of breath. "That's the last of it," I smile down at Vin.
"Thank you for donating. There are so many people in need."
Like you, Vin… I just nod because I feel like I'll give away what I know in my voice.
"I'm going to volunteer at the soup kitchen on Saturday if you're still feeling in the giving spirit."
"I thought that was only for the holidays?"
"Oh, no. They always need volunteers. The holidays are when everyone thinks to volunteer, but what about the other days?"
That's when it hit me what she says. Here is someone volunteering at the shelter who could use that help desperately, yet is spending her time helping others. "Yeah, I'll help. Do you want me to pick you up or do you have a ride?" I always ask her these questions that would be the perfect opportunity for her to tell me, but she never does. At first, it was because I thought she'd be embarrassed. Now it's clear. She doesn't want that help when it could go to someone else. I worry about that kindness being taken advantage of.
"I'm going to work out at the gym first. If you'd like to pick me up at six in the morning that'd be wonderful!"
What are you going to do the first snow, Vin? Are you going to stay huddled up when it's twenty degrees outside in that tent? "Sure." My tone is so flat. I'm not fooling anyone. I just don't know what to do. Wait, six in the morning? Fuck!
Spending my time Saturday with Vin gave me an idea. I speak to the principal at the school about organizing a food drive. Something for the food bank. She responds with the same thing I did. How it's not the holidays. I never realized that this mentality is common because that's a lot of the comments made by the teachers in the staff meeting when the principal announces we'll be doing the drive.
"I'm home," I tell Lucille. She's been on the couch since I left this morning. "You didn't eat your breakfast."
"I wasn't as hungry as I thought."
I end up snapping at her, then feel horrible for doing it. As long as I've known Lucille, she's never finished what she's started eating. I usually come behind her and eat it, but does that make it right? Two fucking dinners or whatever meal of the day it is because the food just happens to be there? Yeah, I'm not wasting it, but it's way more food than what we need.
"Does this have to do with all that soda you had in your car? You on some kick to help world hunger?"
"Would that be the worst thing to do with my time?"
"You're so full of shit. You're not doing this for anyone but yourself. Probably fucking some young blonde at the food pantry."
"She's red-headed." Oh, Jesus fucking Christ, I'm going to get sla-
"Fucking asshole," she snaps, slapping me across the face before marching up the steps.
Well, I didn't expect her to stay. I figured she'd be fleeing into the arms of the sailor. Might as well go fuck a redhead since I'm already guilty of it.
I have the most ingenious idea. I take Vin to one of those all you can eat buffets after she gets off work.
"I don't understand." She just stares blankly at all the food. "You just pay one price and eat?"
"Yeah, well, I mean you gotta get a new plate every time you come back up here. Whatever you want. Stay away from the orange chicken. It ain't chicken."
"What's orange chicken?"
"There are names above everything." I show her on the glass buffet guard.
"They have eighteen fucking inches and fuck-fredo!"
I try to respond but just end up laughing. This woman... "I wouldn't get the pizza either. It's too saucy and bland. Not enough cheese."
"I'm just hungry."
I feel guilty for criticizing the food in front of someone who goes hungry daily. Vin has changed my outlook on a lot of things. I've been blind to this kind of thing my entire life. I didn't grow up in poverty. We never once went hungry. I never even saw a homeless person until I was in my early twenties.
When we sit down, I tell Vin about the food drive we did at the school.
Her eyes brim over with tears. "That's so wonderful! Educating the youth is our most powerful weapon."
"Where are we volunteering tomorrow? Soup kitchen again?"
"I have to work a double tomorrow. Sunday we can!"
"Guess you, uh, probably can't stay out late tonight then," I hint which I'm about a subtle as a gun.
"I need to return before ten."
When the gym closes... This is getting to be so fucking sad. I need to say something to her. Fuck, here I have the means to help her and I'm just spending time walking on eggshells because I'm afraid.
Vin's brow furrows. "Where are they taking all that food?"
I watch a waitress push a cart by the table. "It's the dishes and stuff that's left over that people didn't eat."
She looks horrified, and even more so when I tell her that it's getting thrown away.
Watching her try and fight back the tears is killing me. Taking her to the buffet was a fucking stupid idea. Here I was only trying to make sure that she was full not thinking that this place wastes more food than I have ever seen.
"Can I get one of those leftover boxes? My stomach is upset."
"I'm sorry," I frown.
She doesn't respond and as the lady passes by she asks her for one.
"Sorry, there is no to-go box for our buffet customers."
"I don't understand. I'd like to take my food, please."
"How much to get a box," I ask the lady.
"You'd have to pay for another buffet."
Vin's cheeks start to redden in frustration. "He already paid for a buffet. You're just going to throw it away like you were that cart of food I just watched you push by."
"I'm sorry, that's our policy."
Vin asks to speak to a manager.
I just want to crawl under the table and die. This whole thing gets way out of control and Vin rushes from the restaurant crying. "Vin, wait," I call, catching up to her once we're by the car.
"I need to leave immediately," she sobs.
"Christ, Vin, I am so sorry." I unlock the door as she hurries in and shuts it herself. There are so many things running through my mind right now. Part of me hoped that she would tell me that she was homeless so I wouldn't have to hint at it.
I sit in the driver's seat, debating on starting the car but I can't leave this woman like this. Her sobs don't seem to be ending anytime soon. Am I going to find her dumpster diving for the leftover food? Have I fucked things up between us? I can't stand listening to her cry. I can't keep hinting, or expect her to tell me. I draw in a breath before exhaling slowly. "Vin... I know that you're homeless."