At home, Pa was sitting at my kitchen table again. I paused. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, hello to you too, honey."

"Hi. But... what are you doing here?"

That familiar chuckle. "Just following up. How is it going focusing on other people for a change?"

"It sucks, actually." I filled him in on how I tried to help Abby and it ended in an argument. I finished with a smug, "... and that's what I get for trying to help out."

Pa dismissed me with a snort. "You thought about somebody beside yourself and that's what matters. Helping doesn't have to be perfect, believe it or not. Your effort counts for something. Think about cooking, for instance," I narrowed my eyes at him. Just because I made some nuts didn't mean cooking wasn't still a gaping open wound. "Bangers and mash! Shepherd's pie! Brussel sprouts. These are hideous ugly foods, but as tasty as they are ugly."

He was losing me a little and offending me while he was at it. "Brussel sprouts aren't ugly."

"Okay, fine. Not Brussel sprouts then, but the others. The point is things don't have to be perfect to be lovely and useful in their own way." I stared at him until he threw his arms up. "You, Nora! You don't have to be perfect, how you contribute to the world doesn't have to be perfect. People need you, perfectly imperfect."

"Oh." I savored Pa's statement. It was a nice thought. Liberating. And it gave me an idea, but I wasn't sure I'd have the courage to pull the trigger on it in the light of day, so I didn't say anything to Pa. Instead, "none of the other shadows ever came twice."

Pa stood. "Well. I am not other shadows." His grin was broad as a haystack. "I'll be going now. You'll make up with Abby. Don't let one little argument deter you from focusing on others." He pointed directly at my nose. "Stay out of trouble, honey." I hugged him and he left. He was a pain in my butt, but he was also shaping up to be my favorite of all the shadows. Even if he didn't have Simon's sex appeal.

In the quiet of my apartment, it was hard not tothink about my spat with Abby. I continued telling her off in my head, addingnew, better points to my argument. But Pa's woodsy scent still lingered in thekitchen reminding me to focus on others. I shifted my thinking to the nascentidea I'd had. I looked around my apartment. It wasn't perfect, but maybe itdidn't have to be after all. This might just work.