Reunited

"I need you."

That was the first thing Walter Kovacs ever said to me that showed a sign that he saw me as more than what a lot of whites saw "colored" people back in the years of our youth. Ever since I met him he was like my shadow…

1964

I scrubbed the toilets along with the other black girls in Lillian Charlton Home for Problem Children. Not a lot of us were allowed to be here, but the state would continue to fund the home if they kept at least ten children of color there to show their cause for helping all the boys and girls in need. Five black girls and five black boys. No more no less. Most of the kids were mean, but deep down I just knew they were afraid and scared. They didn't have their parents and society didn't want them- didn't want us.

After finishing up my cleaning, I washed up with the other girls and went to the cafeteria to eat lunch. It was usually empty around this time because everyone else was either in class or at recess. Today's lunch was a little different. As everyone talked around me, one of the counselors, Miss Judy, approached with someone walking behind them. I could see their feet.

"Children, we have a new child joining Charlton Home today. Would it be alright if he ate with you until we got his room settled?" Miss Judy asked firmly, a sign we weren't allowed to say no. Some of the children nodded and Miss Judy stepped to the side where a flash of red was all I could see. Standing there was a pale boy with fire red hair and eye brows with a tray of food in his hands. "Children say hello to Walter Kovacs." He could have been fourteen?

We all looked at this angry faced boy and said our hi's. He just looked down at his tray and eventually sat at the end of the rectangular table when pushed toward us. Satisfied Miss Judy turned and left the cafeteria. The rest of us looked at each other and then looked at Walter who was picking at his food. He must have felt us looking because he shot us all an angry glare and that was enough to lose any trust from those around me. The kids started to get up, taking their trays and walking to another table. I looked up at all of them and watched as they flocked to the other side of the cafeteria. They looked at me and confused and not being one to play follow the leader, I just glanced at Walter.

He was picking at his food in silence and so was I. He had mashed potatoes, peas and chicken. I had mashed potatoes, corn and chicken. I didn't like corn and from the slight scowl on Walter's face as he poked his peas I could only imagine he didn't favor them. He now glanced my way and quickly glanced back down. Shy for an older boy. Me and the other eleven-year-old girls would see him as a weirdo since most boys his age were loud. But not him. I looked down at my tray and then up at him for a second watching him as he stared at his tray.

"You like corn?" I asked. He looked up at me almost stunned. There was more silence and I felt he wasn't going to talk to me. Not surprised, a lot of the white kids didn't speak to me. I was about to go back to my food when he nodded.

"Yeah." he replied and I looked back at him.

"Trade?" I asked and he looked back at his food and then at me and nodded sliding his tray across the table as I did mines. We kept our forks and took the other's trays. I glanced at the table the other kids moved to and noticed they were whispering and staring at me. I ignored them though and began to eat my food now that I liked what was in front of me.

"I'm Walter." he said and I looked at him to see him looking at me before looking back down at his tray and eating it. I gave a small smile and nodded.

"I'm Ophelia." I responded. And from that moment, although we didn't know it, our worlds would forever be changed.

1985

New York City felt like a battle ground if you're in the wrong place at the wrong time. I always tried my best to not be out after dark because of the gangs. My name is Ophelia Murrow. I'm the personal assistant to Mason Windell, the director of a growing health insurance company. Whatever he wanted I made sure it got done. My day was specifically busy as I was running errands around town for Mr. Windell. It was time for lunch and he trusted me enough to give me some freedom to do what I pleased. I decided to stop at my favorite diner to get a sandwich to go. I had to park in a parking lot across the street and the moment the rush of cars stopped and hurried across.

As I saw the diner in the distance, something else caught my attention as well. A flash of red. I slowed to a stop and looked over to my right to the man who was standing off on the side between two buildings, holding up a sign saying "the end is nigh". He was clearly homeless, wearing a brown jacket and pants. But his hair that's what stopped me immediately and took me down memory lane for a second. I didn't even realize the man had noticed me, his face falling into a glare that I was very familiar with.

"You looking for trouble miss?" he asked his voice was grizzly and had some edge in it, and I slowly approached him looking him over now. I watched as he removed his hand from his pocket, a fist forming. I shook my head for a second.

"I'm sorry to bother you… you just look like someone I used to know is all." I replied. He squinted at me some before slowly his eyes widened some.

"I've seen your face." he said and slowly I smiled some.

"And I've yours." I replied taking the biggest leap. "You like corn?" And now that man's face widened in shock.

"Ophelia." he said and I smiled and nodded.

"Hi Walter." I replied stepping closer to him, but he recoiled immediately.

"Don't." he replied, and I paused and nodded. The years have changed us both obviously and I shouldn't forget that people change. His face was sharper and his blue eyes, something was hidden behind them that much I could tell. He was different. I would be lying if I said I was shocked he was homeless. From what I remember, violence was all he knew and that usually led you to the streets or the grave. "You've changed."

I looked up at him and then down at myself.

"So have you." I replied and he just looked down and kept his sign against his shoulder. It seemed our little reunion wouldn't be long I guess, but I wanted to know how he was doing. "Want to get something to eat?" He looked up at me and then back down almost with embarrassment.

"Ain't got no money." he said and I gave a light look of sympathy.

"I can get us something. I was just headed over to that diner. Bring you back a sandwich?" I asked. His jaw tightened and he looked away.

"Don't want to be a bother." he said and I shook my head.

"No bother at all. I'll be right back." I replied moving toward the diner. I couldn't believe I had seen him again after all these years. Walter Kovacs. I had wondered where he was all these years, if he was safe, if he were happy. I ordered two salami sandwiches with some chips and two drinks in a bag. I left the store and headed back to the alley, only to see he was gone. I blinked and looked around the place for a moment before giving a soft sigh. Maybe I scared him off. I sighed to myself and walked back across the street to my car. In the parking lot, I saw a dirty looking woman and a little boy sitting against the chain link fence with a sign asking for money, food or whatever could be provided. I looked at them and then my two meals before moving over to them and handing it to them.

The happiness in their eyes when they took the food brought me happiness.

"Bless you ma'am, bless you!" she said happily. I gave her two tens as well and headed back to my car. The supposed greatest country in the world and we still people who were homeless. Sad. I got back in my car and headed back to work deciding to forget about my childhood friend.

Author's Notes

So I suck at doing one shots, so I'm going to try and do that for this fic. This first chapter I just wanted to introduce the two characters and how they met. I don't plan to have a real plot to this.