“Thanks again for helping us out on this project, son,” said Richard as he and Manny made their way to Richard’s truck.

[color=a0410d]“It doesn’t feel like ‘help’ when you have me on the payroll…”[/color]

“Don’t I always tell you that you aren’t gonna be doing all this dangerous work for free?”

[color=a0410d]“I’ve done more dangerous things than operate a cherry picker.”[/color]

“Exactly...and what do you get for [i]that[/i]? Nothing.”

[color=a0410d]“I don’t help people to ‘get’ anything from it, Dad...look I know where this is going, and it’s really not the time or place. You know that.”[/color]

“Alright,” Richard sighed in surrender. “You riding back with me, or…?”

Manny grinned and gave his dad a pat on the shoulder. As he walked around to the other side of the truck, he spotted Aurora and her dog.

[color=a0410d]“Actually...I’ll catch up.”[/color]

Richard looked to see who or what had caught Manny’s attention.

“Isn’t that the rider you helped?”

[color=a0410d]“Yeah. I never got a chance to see how she was doing.”[/color]

“Oh...do all your rescues have a follow-up?” Richard said with an assuming smirk. Manny’s expression dropped as he gave his dad a ‘whatever’ expression. “Well, have fun, hero.”

[color=a0410d]“How original…”[/color] Manny rolled his eyes and shook his head as Richard slid into the driver’s seat. Richard started the truck and gave Manny a small wave before driving off, then Manny turned to walk in Aurora’s direction. He wasn’t quite sure how to approach a blind person, so he proceeded with a bit of caution. Even from a distance, she looked rather preoccupied and visibly nervous. He wondered if she even wanted to be bothered, but since he was already walking toward her, he decided to press on.

[color=a0410d]“Um...hey, Aurora...never got to thank you for the cookies...”[/color]