About the author

So Tyrone left, with very little money, no luggage, no place to go, and no plan. After a few nights of sleeping in a bus station, he found some kids who lived in an abandoned building. There was glass on the floor beneath broken windows, and it was always cold. Cockroaches and rats scurried about. Some of the older kids tired to hurt the younger kids. Usually everybody was at least a little hungry.

One kid said that there was always food in the Covenant House van. Another said you could trust the people who drove the van. Tyrone didn’t know whom he could trust.

Snow was falling down the back of his neck now. Tyrone pulled the collar of his jacket up as the van came closer. His stomach rumbled, but the fear in his stomach grew stronger than the hunger. He wouldn’t get inside the van. If they were willing to give him food outside the van, great. Otherwise, forget it.

The van stopped and a woman got out. “Hi,” she said. “My name is Keshia. I’m from Covenant House. I’ve got some sandwiches in the van. Want some?”

Tyrone looked at her. He backed up a few steps. “I’m kind of hungry,” he said quietly. He shivered a little.