"I'm gonna go put up some more of Jonny's 'Heroes for Hire' posters," said Random. "You wanna come?"
He didn't need to ask A.J. twice. She grabbed the stapler from the kitchen counter on her way out the door.
They worked the block tag-team style. Random held the flyers in place while A.J. stapled them to the telephone poles.
"Damn, girl!" Random yelped as his finger accidentally got stapled to a flyer. "You sure you know how to run that thing?"
She gave him an apologetic grin, which he returned.
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"All done," said Random, twelve blocks later.
They'drun out of flyers and the stapler had run out of staples.
"You ready to get back?" asked Random.
A.J. didn't feel like going home. The weather was mild for a New York City winter; and besides, she liked being around Random.
"Do you mind if we...go to Central Park for a while?" she asked slowly.
"Sure thing, Lil' Angel," Random said with a smile. "We just gotta be home by sunset. Jonny likes to know where you are."
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They walked down the tree-lined paths, watching people throw bread to the pigeons. Random told A.J. about how he'd run away from home at fourteen years old, met Jonny when he was sixteen, and moved in with Jonny after he'd served time for manslaughter.
"Jonny never told me what your deal is," said Random. "Do you wanna tell me?"
"I guess it's only fair," said A.J., kicking at a piece of gravel. "I never met my real parents. I've spent over a decade in the foster care system. I've had good experiences and bad ones. The guy I live with now, Carmine, he's a real whack job. He's never said so, but I think he's involved with the Mafia. And let's just say I didn't get bruised walking into walls."
"Looks like we've both had some pretty bad luck," Random observed. "But at least we're both in good hands since we're with Jonny."
They sat down to rest near the large bronze statue of Balto. A.J. traced the inscription with her fingers.
"I remember coming to see this when I was a little girl," she said. "I just wish I could remember who I am. If I don't have a past, how can I have a future?"
"I know who you are. You're Lil' Angel. And Lil' Angel's a lot of fun, hot, not to mention a total sweetheart. You gotta put your past in your trunk. As for your future, well, I can see you becoming President."
A.J. blinked. This was uncharacteristically insightful for Random.
After lunch at a hot dog stand, she and Random walked hand-in-hand back to the warehouse.