She wasn’t in fancy clothes. Nor was she in a Little outfit now. But the jeans and hoodie she wore fit good and they weren’t dirty and tattered. Part of her felt guilty. Perhaps she could round up some clothes for the bunch she stood before.
But first things first. Tonight was about getting them a meal.
“We made you all some stuff.” She thrust out her right arm to offer him one of the insulated bags. “Ham and cheese sandwiches, granola bars, some beef jerky, and fruit.”
“And bags of chips,” Iris added.
“Oh yeah! Chips, too,” Annika said.
“God bless you!” The older man cheered loudly as he accepted the food. “Thank you kindly, ma’am.”
The others accepted the food, too, everyone thanking Annika and her friends.
“Oh yeah. I almost forgot. If you unzip the bottom compartment, there are a few things down there, separated from the food. Just toothbrushes and toothpaste and stuff like that.” Annika looked beyond the group and down Hollywood Boulevard. Turning back, she said, “We’re going to go pass out some more meals. It was nice seeing you all again.”
The people thanked the girls again as they started unzipping the reusable sacks and looking at the treasures they held.
As the girls started walking, Annika looked over her left shoulder to see the van pull away from the curb and trail behind them, keeping pace. It wasn’t holding any vehicles behind it up. The traffic was pretty thick tonight, so the van was going to move at a snail’s pace whether it was following the girls or not.
Down the street aways, they passed the tall Harlan Residence. It was one of the Boulevard’s oldest buildings.
“That thing was built in 1917,” Annika told Iris, Cami, And Lana. “I read all about it before I even moved here.”
“That’s cool,” Lana said. “I used to live not far from here. My apartment was just right up the street, actually.” She looked at the tall pink and white Harlan again. “Did you know Charlie Chaplin used to own this place?”
“Yep! And I read that Rudolph Valantino turned the basement into a speakeasy,” Annika replied. After a sigh, she added, “I sure wish I could have met them all.”
“Uh, so… we kinda met Rudolph Valantino on Halloween. We think,” Cami chimed in.
Iris laughed.
“Huh?” Annika said.
“It’s a long story,” Cami continued. “Sometimes I think I dreamed it all. But… well… either way, our Halloween was really eventful.”
Annika made a mental note to ask more about that later. Was this connected to the ghosts she’d been told haunted the Guard’s mansion? Now, that was fascinating!
Right now, though, she had more meals to distribute.
Seeing another group of people ahead, she walked to the van. Once it parked at the curb, the back opened and Matteo handed her some more bags. The other ladies took some, too.
“Remember to stay right where we can see you,” Matteo told them. A second later, he added, “In fact, maybe I should just come with you.”
“But remember, Daddy. You look like a cop.” She giggled. “No offense.”
Annika was relieved when he smiled, letting her know he wasn’t upset by what she’d said. “And what’s wrong with that?”
“Some of the people out here are afraid of the police,” she reminded him. “We haven’t all had good experiences with law enforcement.”
She hated telling him that. It wasn’t her goal to make him feel guilty. But it was the truth. Matteo approaching unhoused individuals might do more harm than good, as they’d simply run.
He nodded. “I’m sorry that’s the case. But I understand. Okay, little one. Just stay close.”
She took another two bags of food from him. “Yes, Sir. We won’t go far.”
The women hurried back to the sidewalk and distributed more food. Everyone who received it seemed more than grateful. Annika was thankful, too, that Daddy and the other Guard members funded this. And thankful that her friends were helping.
There was enough food in each bag to make several meals out of, and she knew the difference just two meals could make in a person’s life. She’d been the recipient of such. Sometimes, it could feel like you’d been given the whole world.
