This kid. he reminds me of a time in my life where that could have been me sitting here. He looks so.....sad. Like he missed having the life he used to have before....this. Now I know none of why he's in his situation is none of my business but....there's something about him that makes me feel kinda bad for him. He didn't look at me since I sat down and the awkward silence was starting to drive me crazy! I wasn't sure how to break the ice but with the clock ticking I knew I had to say something before this chance never came around again.

  "Soooooo.......what's you name?" I quietly asked him trying to get his attention.

  "Armand." He said in a sad deep tone.

  "Well Armand.....I'm Carly! Nice to meet you." I replied sticking my hand out to shake his.

He looked at my hand and then quickly turned away.

  "It's ok I don't bite. It's just a hand." I joke with him hoping to get a smile from him.

  "No thanks. I don't wanna get a rich girl like you dirty."

My heart dropped to my feet along with my arm as I gave him a look of offense. Knowing how snarky my attitude could be I took a step back and remembered that I was him at one point and should be more sensitive to his situation. That's when I got the idea to fill him in about how wrong his comment was.

  "Ya know.....I'm not as rich as you think I am." I stated scooting in closer to him.

  "Then why'd you show up in a limo then? You don't have to say that you're not rich just to make me feel better. I know how that story goes." Armand said sadly as he looked at me.

Letting out a sigh I shook my head and turned to him with my right leg up on the bench to make myself more comfortable.

  "I'm being serious. I really not as rich as you think I am. I was adopted almost a year ago! See the thing is......I was living in a foster home until my adoption. My mom...well the person who I thought was my mom......dropped me off on a playground and left me to fend for myself when I was in kindergarten. A state worker found me and took me to an orphanage in my hometown and I've been living there ever since. My brother and I were both adopted together. I know what its like to feel guarded all the time. It took me a long time to not feel like I'm living in a box. My dad had a lot to do with that."

  "But how does that not make you rich? If your dad has money then so do you....right?"

  "Not exactly. See my dad has money but most of it goes into his charities and stuff. I have an inheritance supposedly but I cant touch it until I'm 21. At least that's what he says. My dad makes me do chores and I get an allowance. I guess he wants me to have a normal life. Even though it doesn't look normal but to me it is. My dad makes me earn the things I want. Do you know what I had to do just to get a cell phone? I was the only kid in my class that didn't have one until this passed Christmas! The extra chores I had to do for my phone were torture!"

It made Armand smile a little and he was even able to giggle.

  "So then....I guess you're ok." He said as she put his hand out.

  "Ya darn right I am!" I replied happily shaking his hand.

  "So who's your dad anyway?"

  "Well....he's....Prince." I say lowly.

  "No way! Are you kidding me??? My mama used to love Prince....that is before....."

The smile he had on his face soon dissipated and he was back to his melancholy state.

  "Before what?" I asked him trying to keep the conversation going.

He just shook his head and turned away from me. I had to keep him talking some how to keep his mind off of his current state.

  "Aw c'mon Armand I thought we were friends now! You can tell me. Maybe I can even help you somehow."

  "Nah. I'd rather not trouble you with my issues."

  "It's no trouble if were friends right?"

He looked me in my eyes and he had the same sadness I had in mine when I found out that Prince wasn't going to be home for my birthday when I was living at Caring Hearts. Something had happened to him that crushed him to his very soul and I knew that feeling all too well for him to even try to hide it.

  "It's just too painful." He said sadly.

  "Well I'm sure if you talk about it you'll feel a little better. I know...that sounds a little cliché but....it does help."

Armand gave me a small grin and let out a deep breath after closing his eyes.

  "Alright...here goes. My mama and I were really close. Then she met my step daddy. Things were fine at first until she found out that he was a dope boy five years after we they got married. She didn't like that at all. So she told him either he would have to leave the game or she was leavin' him. He had promised her that he was done and he left the game for a minute but then.....he went back. My mama didn't know it until one of a rival crews boys showed up at the door lookin for him. My mama was pissed that they came to the house. So we packed what we could and went to stay at my auntie house. I guess we were being followed cuz the next thing I knew the car was being shot up. I came out with just a graze wound on my shoulder but my mama was hit a few times. She died at the hospital the next day. I decided to get to my auntie house on my own but by the time I got there.....she was gone too. The cops said that my step daddy was in on it since my mama left him to go there. She said she wanted to keep me out of harms way. I had nowhere else to go and I couldn't go home so......here I am. Just on the streets."

Damn. His story was way worse than mine. I had it made compared to him. Armand's story actually made me cry!

  "Armand......i'm so.....sorry. Do you have any other family that you can stay with?"

  "I do but when Katrina hit New Orleans they've all been displaced. I've been looking for my uncle Bobby since I been on the streets. Last I heard he was here in Chicago but I don't know where."

Armand lowered his head again and stared at the ground. I feel so bad for him. Just as I thought about what I could do I saw my dad coming out of the stadium.

  "Well  I guess I should go. My dad is ready to leave but......I hope to see you again before we hit the next city." I said to him.

Giving him some type of false hope wasn't the best idea but I know he needs something to believe in. I met my dad at the car and we got inside. The smell of the food I got from the airport filled my nose once more and it made my heart break even more. Tony was just about to pull off when....

  "WAIT!" I shouted.

Taking the container of food I got out of the car and ran back over to Armand.

  "Hey! I know it's not much but.....here. You can have it."

Armand took the container and opened it up and his eyes lit up.

  "Wow! Thanks! You're really cool Carly. And......thanks for listening. It did kinda make me feel a little better."

  "You're welcome! And I hope you find your uncle. Enjoy that and.....take care of yourself. The street isn't kind to kids like us."

We smiled at each other and he dug into the food as if this could be his last meal. I couldn't stand and watch him eat it all because it would have crushed me even more but then I got an idea.

  "Hey uhhhh. You should come back and meet me here tonight! My dad has a show at 7 and maybe I can get you in backstage so he can meet you and....maybe even help you!"

  "Nah. I cant accept that." He said as he chewed.

  "You can and you will. We're friends now remember? And friends don't let friends go without."

He smiled and nodded.

  "Alright! Deal! I'll be here at 7!" he replied happily and returned to his meal.

I smiled and went back to the car. Once I got inside all eyes were on me.

  "You just gave away good food! Why?!?!?" Uncle Dre asked with pain in his voice.

  "He needed it more than me Uncle Dre. It's all good!" I told him with a grin.

  "You right it was all good! It probably tasted good too!" Uncle Dre snapped at me.

  "It's alright Andre. We'll talk more at the hotel. But that was a really nice thing you did." My dad said with a proud smile on his face.

  "Good! Because I need a favor for the show tonight." I said to him.

I think I know how to convince my dad on how to get my new friend backstage AND what to write about for my report!