Loud music. Cool breeze. Green grass. Falling twilight. Human park. I looked around. So this was a Sharing barbecue. Now, where was Melissa?

My question seemed answered when I felt a touch on my arm. I turned around, expecting to see Melissa, but instead I saw a young human offering me a white plate with some greasy meat oozing on it. "Ribs?"

Not a second too soon, I remembered that not only were ribs a part of human anatomy, they were also a food. Melissa had implied this earlier by grouping it with chicken. I reached out my hand a little hesitantly. "Sure. How much are they?"

He smiled. "The Sharing's giving this barbecue free of charge," he explained. "The full members funded it."

I stared at the red gooey stuff on the white plate. "Oh? Full members?"

"Yeah." He set down one of the plates he was carrying on a nearby picnic table and shoved his hand at me. "I'm Tom Berenson."

Ah. A handshake. I knew how to do that. I gripped his hand firmly and moved it slightly up and down. "Kylie."

Tom quirked an eyebrow. "Like Kylie Minogue?"

From the tone of his voice, I guessed it was a joke -- though I had no idea what the joke was -- so I laughed. "Like Kylie Johnson." Johnson was a common name; I'd learned this. Thus, it was a safe one to use.

"Ah. Oh well. Minogue's music is good," he offered.

"Yep." Right. Okay. "This your first meeting?"

"Yeah, it is. What's the Sharing like?"

"It's a great opportunity. You should join."

"I have a feeling every organization says that."

"But we mean it." He grinned.

I suddenly felt uneasy; maybe it was the cold eyes in his smiling face. Forcing a smile, I waved. "I need to going, and find Melissa. I'll see you later."

"Melissa Chapman?"

"Yeah. Do you know her?"

"Sure. Her dad's really active in the Sharing."

"So she said."

"She's probably somewhere near him." He scrunched his eyebrows a little as he looked around. "Hey, there she is. That picnic table. Looks like she saved you a seat."

"Thanks. Tom, was it?"

"Yeah. Tom. See you."

I paused, feeling like I was forgetting something. Then it came to me: Oh, yeah. Pepsi. That's half the reason I'm here. "Where are the drinks?"

With a jerk of his thumb, he indicated the tables to my right. "Should be everything you need, right over there."

"Thanks again." I made my way over, scanning the labels until I found one bearing a Pepsi logo. "Yay," I muttered to myself, pouring it into one of the white cups they'd supplied.

"Want any ice?"

I hadn't realized he was behind me. "No thanks. I'm fine."

With that, I took off, heading for Melissa. Tom's eyes had scared me. There was something dark inside them. I didn't know what, but I didn't have time to think about it.

"Hey, Kylie!" Melissa hollered over the music. She pointed at the empty space on the bench Tom had been referring to. "Sit. Sit. Dad's about to say something. He always gets that look on his face when he is."

"Mr. Chapman?"

"Yeah. Dad." She beamed with pride. "I was afraid you weren't going to show."

I set down the plate and the cup. "And miss the Pepsi?" She'd think I was joking, but I'd never been more serious in my life.

Melissa laughed. "Yeah, that's why everyone comes. The Pepsi."

An authoritative voice boomed suddenly I could see several adults standing together, and the man at the front, who apparently had an incredible talent for yelling, was speaking, loudly enough for everyone to hear him.

"Welcome, everyone! Welcome. The Sharing appreciates all of you being here. To thank for this barbecue, we have the full members to thank, among them Tom Berenson, who'll be speaking to you at this time." He stepped back, and the boy from earlier took his place, a wide grin on his face. From this far away, I couldn't see his eyes -- and I was glad.

"Tonight," he said, and got a loud screech in response. He cleared his throat. "Technical difficulties, just a moment."

"What was that?" I hissed at Melissa.

"Mike feedback. Shhh."

Only then did I notice the speakers that must have been set up for the occasion -- since I doubted human parks just had them as a permanent fixture. Tom, unlike Chapman, was holding a small black stick with a ball at the end. A mike?

He started speaking again. "Tonight is a wonderful opportunity for the Sharing to reach out to the community. I hope to see you all at our meetings. We'd love to show you what the Sharing is all about: caring for others and for our environment. If you're looking for a place to fit in, a good cause to pursue, I invite you all -- come check out our meeting a week from today, Wednesday, at six o'clock. We'll be in our standard building. Directions can be found over there, near the food -- since we figure that's where everyone will be gathering." He offered a playful smirk, and most of the people present laughed in response. "Seriously, the Sharing is an excellent organization, and what it stands for is relevant to each and every person here: building a better life. We've got a lot of dedicated people here to listen to you if you're upset and give you support if you need it. Not only can you help people -- we can help you, too. So drop by Wednesday -- come find out what we're all about!"

A roar of applause started with the adults and spread all over the park. I found myself caught up in it too. I think I need that.

Melissa leaned over to whisper in my ear. "I'm becoming a full member tonight," she said softly. "Daddy and I are going over to the main building. I asked him -- he said that if you were interested in membership, too, that would be great."

"Seriously?" Once again, I was touched by her generosity -- and her father's. I needed someone to care about me like this. "Thanks, Melissa. I'd love to."

"What'll you tell your parents?"

How could I tell her that I lived in a shack in the woods? "I'll... call them," I improvised. Eventually the reality of my life would have to be faced, but not yet. I changed the subject. "I can't wait to meet your father. I know he's the vice principal, but I haven't really met him yet."

"Tom'll be there too," she added. "He's Jake's brother. Jake is cute."

"I have a class with Jake, I think. Theatre."

"Cute?"

"Sure." What makes a human cute? I've heard them say puppies are cute because they're cuddly and furry but Jake isn't furry... or cuddly... Once again, I was confused. I'd have to find a way to tactfully get her to explain. Sometime.

"When are you all going to the main building?"

"As soon as we finish eating -- me and Daddy, and you, too. Dad normally stays to help clean up but he said this was really important." Her eyes sparkled. "So you're coming?"

"Wouldn't miss it." I chanced a bite of the ribs. "These are good."

"Yeah." She looked around. "It's really a chance to... change something, you know? Make a difference?"

"I thought this was about college for you."

"It was. But Dad called it 'really important.' He called going to the main building with me 'really important.' I can't remember the last time he..." She swallowed. "It'll be fun, too," she said abruptly. "Something you and I can do together."

"Yeah. Hey, Melissa?" I added, around a mouthful of meat.

"Yeah?"

"Thanks for everything."

She smiled, and hugged me lightly around the shoulders. "Anytime."