After Susie leaves, Tim closes and locks the door behind him, then turns to the stranger to speak. The girl smiles, then frowns. She paces a bit too.

        Tim sees this and says, "Oh, the bathroom is down the hall and to the left."

          Brenda nods her head, and goes in the direction he tells her. Sure enough she finds herself inside a nice bathroom complete with a shower, a mirror, a nice sized toliet and two sinks. She thinks, wow this is a really nice place. She makes sure not to make to big of a mess in the bathroom. When she finishes, she washes her hands and dries them on the hand towel she sees that is already out in the room. She smiles and steps out of the bathroom. She bumps into someone.

    "Oh, I beg your pardon, sir!" Brenda says.

     "It is all right.  These accidents tend to happen sometimes that is all." Tim says.

      "yes, well, I never meant to invade your privacy or anything." Brenda says.

      " Miss, you may stay here if you wish." Tim remarks.

      "What?  Really?"  Brenda's  jaw drops open in surprise at his suggestion that she remain in his home.

      "Sure, I mean that way you can at least have a roof over your head." Tim remarks.

      "Okay, in that case thank you ever so much!"  Brenda tells him.

     "You are so welcome!  Oh, and I am Tim!"  Tim tells her.

      "Nice to meet you, Tim!  I am Brenda!"  Brenda responds and wonders why she told him her real name.

       "Nice to meet you too, Brenda!  Oh, and do make your self comfortable."  Tim responds.

      "I beg your pardon. We just met that is hardly the time for such things." Brenda says with her face all red at such a thought.

       "Brenda, you misunderstood me clearly.  I only meant that you are to feel welcome here.  Oh, and you may use the shower if you please to do so.  The bathroom you were in earlier is the guest one anyone.  Not to say, I have much guest." Tim says.

       "Oh, I see.  Well, in that case, thank you." Brenda replies.

        "I   use to have a home and job, but that is a long story."  Brenda remarks.

       "When you ready I shall like to hear it.  At the moment, would you like something to eat?" Tim ask.

        "Oh, yes please!"  Brenda says.

        "What do you like to eat?" Tim says.

      "Oh, just about anything.   Only no blueberries, honey or carrots.  I know its odd, but I am allergic to those.  Other than that I can eat whatever."  Brenda responds.

        "Wow, I will be sure to keep that in mind then." Tim says.

          Brenda goes back to the bathroom, but takes the small duffel bag with her this time.  She closes the door, locks it and removes her clothes.  She steps into the shower and washes herself all over. She even cleans her hair. It feels good to be clean again. She dries off with a towel she finds on a stand next to the shower, then puts on some clean undergarments and outer clothes. This time she has on a pair of denmin jeans with holes in the knees, no shoes, and light pink t-shirt that says,  "I  love art"  across it.  She exits the room. She is not sure what to do with the rest of her things.  

       "Uh, where should I put my stuff?"  Brenda ask.

      "You can put them in the guest room."  Tim answers. 

       " Where exactly might that be then?"  Brenda ask him.

       "It is the room right beside the guest room on the right."  Tim tells her.

      "Okay,thanks."  Brenda says. She takes her things there right away. She removes her clothes from earlier that day out of the bathroom and into the room she is stay in from here on out.  This way it will be less of a mess. 

        Brenda leaves the room and comes back to the kitchen area.  She smiles when she sees the food is ready. She sits down to a meal of  macaroni and cheese, green peas, strawberries and some chicken.  She eats in silence then drinks the milk.  She is not sure what to think about the kindness and compassion shown towards her by this man she just barely met.

         "Look, I have a job to go to each day except for Sunday!  Sundays I  have off.  Also, on my work days I will be away from early in the morning til a bit after lunch.  Anyway, since you are a guest, here, is a key in case you accidentally lock yourself out.  This way you do not have to pick the lock again."  Tim tells her.

        "Oh, thanks !  I promise to take good care of the spare key."  Brenda says.

        "Glad to hear it."  Tim says.

             Brenda finishes the meal.  She thinks it strange this guy just trust her like this. It is not like he knows much about her.  For that matter, he knows nothing about her.  Nothing about her background or her lack of  work.  

          She gets up, washes the dishes, and begins to dry them. She figures it is the least she can do since she cannot afford  to pay him room and board.  She does not feel right about letting he do all the chores.  She empties the trash out, comes back in and looks around for a fresh liner.

            "The trash can liners are under the sink." Tim says.

           "How did you know that was what I was after anyway?"  Brenda ask.

          "I saw you take out the trash, so I  figure that must be what you are looking for anyway." Tim answers.

           Brenda looks under the kitchen sink and sure enough she finds the liners. She puts a fresh liner into the kitchen can.  She looks up to see Tim glance her way. She looks away from him.  She finds it to make her uncomfortable when he looks at her.  She is not sure why when she wears modest clothes and is not one of those flirty girls.  

           "I do say, you are Welcome, Brenda!  Welcome to my home."  Tim says.

           "Do you have any pets?"  Brenda ask.

           "I have a pet goldfish. "  Tim says.

          "Oh, that must be nice.  I  had a dog once, but it died a few years ago." Brenda tells him.

          to be continued in Chapter  3  What?  You Let Her Stay?