The teenager bagging groceries today asked if I wanted my bread on top.

I said yes.

He nodded seriously and said, "Good call. You’re gonna want to munch on that while driving home."

Then he ripped off a big chunk of my bread and ate it.

His coworker laughed at him.

But I grabbed a chunk too.

We went chunk for chunk until the entire bread was gone.

Then we fought his coworkers. No one got hurt but everyone was fired.

He lives with me now. He’s not my son but he’s not not my son either.

We make it work, one loaf at a time.