"There are no other clothes left, only this sweater and shoes," Rena said with a hint of regret.
"It doesn't matter, as long as it's clothes." Alan took the black hooded sweater and the size 43 sneakers. Pulling them on, he stomped his feet, finally feeling a much-needed warmth spread through him.
"Thank you, Rena." Dominic wrapped her in a grateful hug.
Rena seized the moment to extend an invitation. "Dominic, do you want to stay here tonight?"
"Oh, much as I'd like to," Dominic tactfully declined, "I still have to look after my friend Alan. He just got here, has no place to live, and doesn't know the rules of the street. It's easy to get himself into trouble."
"Well, your friend certainly does need help," Rena responded sympathetically. Suddenly, she brightened. "I just remembered, I forgot to give your friend something! Dominic, could you help me go inside and find it? It's a red plastic teacup."
"Of course." Dominic entered the shelter without a second thought, his movements familiar as he navigated the interior. Only Rena and Alan remained in the alley.
Rena turned her attention to Alan, her gaze lingering a few times before she smiled. "Hello, Alan, I'm Rena. Dominic should have introduced me." She was dressed casually in a sleeveless tank top, denim shorts, and flip-flops. Blonde hair, blue eyes, delicate features, and over thirty years old, she exuded the mature, intellectual aura of a woman who had weathered a failed marriage. A faint indifference to life seemed to cling to her. She leaned against the door, arms folded, her ample chest seemingly on the verge of spilling out.
"Hello, Rena, nice to meet you." Alan still felt a touch of restraint. "Are you Russian?"
"Yeah, I am Russian. Dominic said you just arrived. What are your plans for the future?" Rena smiled, maintaining a polite demeanor.
"I'm homeless and have no legal status. Finding a job will be difficult. I can only take it one step at a time for now." Alan spoke frankly.
Rena nodded, showing no condescension. After all, California was teeming with people in similar situations; she was long accustomed to it. "I can only wish you good luck. I hope this City of Angels can bring you different changes!"
"Thank you for your blessing, Rena. I hope so, too." Alan reciprocated her sentiment. A comfortable silence settled between them.
"Alan, how long have you known Dominic?" Rena broke the quiet, taking the initiative to restart the conversation.
"Although we have a very good relationship, I have to say we just met today, no more than three hours ago. And it was all because of a 5-cent can." Alan chuckled. "He's a truly good friend who genuinely likes to help others. I'm lucky to have met him on the streets of Los Angeles."
"Yeah, Dominic is quite well-known on these streets. Many people know him. He's helped a lot of people, but many of them are bad news." Rena's expression grew serious, her gaze scrutinizing Alan like a family elder. "Promise me you won't have too much contact with those types, and don't drag Dominic into doing bad things, okay?"
"I've been taught to be an honest and kind person since I was a child. Plus, due to personal reasons, I don't think I'll ever willingly associate with those kinds of people or bad things." Alan answered without hesitation.
"Very good, Alan. If you need anything in the future, you can come to me directly. At least it's convenient to shower here; you don't have to fight with other homeless people for buses and public baths. It's easy to catch AIDS and infectious diseases out there. If you do plan on having sex with some girls, remember to take safety measures." She then added,
"And if you ever get into trouble, bring Dominic to my place to spend the night." Rena was clearly satisfied with his answers. At least this boy wouldn't be like those others who liked to cause trouble, bringing endless problems for Dominic and her.
"There will be a chance, Rena. Thank you for being so generous; your heart is truly pure and beautiful," Alan said with a smile.
"Really? Just a beautiful heart? Am I not beautiful?" Rena was amused by his words.
Alan was momentarily speechless. While true, one couldn't exactly blurt that out. He quickly replied, "Of course, you are also very beautiful, totally in line with my aesthetics."
Rena beamed, smiling from ear to ear. Having heard what she wanted, the ice between them fully broke, and their conversation flowed easily. She continued to ask Alan more questions, reconfirming that he was a serious person with no bad habits.
Just then, Dominic emerged from the shelter, holding a matcha-green plastic cup and a pair of jeans. He glanced at the two conversing happily. "Rena, I searched everywhere and couldn't find the red teacup you mentioned, so I could only take the green one. Also, didn't you say you had no more clothes? You must not have looked carefully earlier, right?"
"Oh, maybe I remembered it wrong," Rena said carelessly, waving a hand.
"It's getting late, we have to go back. Goodbye, Rena." Dominic and Alan waved goodbye.
"See you another day, handsome boys." Rena waved back, smiling brightly.