Lance lifted another box of cans onto a tall shelf.

"There." He grunted, pushing the box back onto the shelf. It was heavy.

He wiped the sweat away from his face with his shirt and sighed before looking for his supervisor.

"Hey Dan-" Lance called across the floor of the warehouse. He checked his phone. It was almost 4.

"Lance?" Came a voice. It was Lance's boss, Daniel Tucker. A tall guy in his early 20s.

"Yeah." Lance said, following the voice.

"You can take off now." Dan said, walking into the warehouse floor from his office. He had a paper in his right hand. "Are you working tomorrow?"

"Noon to 4."

"We love having you here, but- haven't you finished your service hours?"

Lance shrugged. "Yeah, but food instability is still going on."

"You'll end up like me then- fighting a never-ending battle."

Lance laughed. "I don't mind. It's nice to be needed."

"Speaking of which-" He handed a sheet of paper off to Lance. "I think you should actually apply for a job, Lance. You may as well get paid for your help."

Lance thought about refusing the offer but he knew that he needed financial help.

"Thanks." He replied. "I'll take a look at it."

Lance had been working at Food for Friends for a few months now. He took the steps out of the open garage of the warehouse as there were no delivery trucks backed up in the bay for unloading. He unlocked his car. Someone in the parking lot was hiding low in a hoodie even though it was a beautiful day. He looked up at the number on the building and took a deep breath as he walked up the steps. He put his handle on the metal of the glass door that led to the front desk and offices but let go and walked back down the steps.

Lance locked his car and crossed the parking lot.

"You know that there is nothing to be ashamed of, right?"

The boy froze. He turned around. Lance put his hand out. "I'm Lance."

"Keith." He introduced.

Lance held the door open. "Cool. Let's get you set up- no questions asked."

Keith wanted to dissappear- no- die of embarrassment. Keith bit his lip and walked through the glass door to a desk. No one was there so Lance walked behind it and leaned over the computer he clicked a few times and mmoved the mouse before straightning up and waving for Keith to follow.

"Lance." A voice came from the office. It was Dan. "Yeah?"

"I thought you were heading out."

"Yeah- one sec!" Lance said, grabbing a paper bag and walking it over to set ontop of an unpturned wooden crate. He closed it and passed it over.

Keith looked uncomfortable but thanked Lance. He walked Keith out to his car. Lance unlocked his sedan and looked at Keith.

"Come back next time you need to and don't worry- no one's judging you."

Keith set the paper bag in his trunk. He flipped his hair out of his eyes. "Thanks."

Lance shrugged. "That's what we're here for." He spun his keys around his finger and opened the door. "Seriously-" He said, sitting down. "Come see us again."