i work at a bookstore. teenager came in daily. read for hours. Never bought anything. finally asked. “looking for anything specific?” “just reading. can’t afford books. Library’s far. this is closer.” let him stay. read whatever. whenever. brought him snacks. hot chocolate. safe space. learned his story. Foster kid. Seventh home. books were his escape. his education. his hope. started giving him books. “damaged copies. can’t sell them. you want?” he knew better. took them anyway. read everything. three years of this. he aged out of foster care. eighteen. scared. nowhere to go. helped him apply to college. scholarships. got in. full ride. English major. Graduated. he’s a teacher now. High school English. Brings his whole class to the bookstore. Shows them where he spent his teenage years. “Bookstore worker gave me sanctuary. Knowledge. Hope. taught me one person caring changes trajectories.” he buys books for students. who can’t afford them. pays it forward. Every kid in his class reads. because someone let a foster kid read for free.
Tonight after dinner we sank into the couch next to each other to start a movie—Toy Story. He grabbed my hand and said “are we just hanging out?”
“Yeah, baby, we’re just hanging out.”
“Oh. I love just hanging out with you.”
And this is what the days between Christmas and New Year are about—just hanging out together in the space between.