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Christian laughed. “I mean, shit people are still going to be shit, and they’re going to do shit things, even if the world is changing. Never really thought to look back, but I hope some of those homes are no longer taking in kids. Still, there were a lot of good ones.”

“All things considered, it might not take much to be better than being half-starved by someone.”

“True. But there was this older couple who lived off their pension and savings. It wasn’t a lot, but they did a lot with what they had. The wife, Gloria, was a great gardener and cook. In the six months Lily and I were there, we learned how to keep the garden and preserve food, so stuff lasted for a long time.”

“Oh, so that’s where you met her?”

Christian nodded. “She showed up shortly after I did. She was as loud and pushy as she is now. There was no telling her no. Gloria adored her, though, loved her a ‘girl with some spunk’ or something like that. Her husband, Frank, was just as great. Despite years of working in a factory, he was an artist in his spare time. Used to let us kids watch him sketch and paint if we promised to be quiet, and even taught us some things. I was no good at it, but it got me into coloring.”

“Really? I guess he left an impression on you.”

“I also have a little window garden in my apartment. It’s only growing a few herbs for cooking, but it’s there.”

“I stand corrected. They both left an impression on you.”

Christian beamed. “They were wonderful people. They taught us how to take care of ourselves even if we don’t have much, and they did it like the warmest and kindest people I’veever met. I like remembering those homes instead of all the miserable and cruel ones.”

General Winter cocked his head, a small smile playing on his lips. “I think...that’s a perfect way of looking at things.”

Christian snorted. “Well, I like to think so. I thought the same thing growing up, but even the other kids used to say it was stupid. Now, as adults, most people look at me weirdly or say, ‘how optimistic’ but with that same tone, as if they’re trying not to look at me like I’m a freak.”

Most people assumed that someone who lost their parents at the age of nine and was thrown into a system that, even today, had plenty of pitfalls shouldn’t be as cheerful as everyone said he was. Christian didn’t understand why he couldn’t see the good things in life and focus on them. There were plenty of good things in the world. You only had to keep your eye out for them.

“Reminds me of a quote I heard once, that it takes the same amount of energy to make yourself happy as it does to make yourself miserable, or something like that,” General Winter said.

“Oh, I’m going to have to steal that one.”

“By all means, I’m not sure I got it right. And for the record, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with keeping your attention on the positive. I think people are all too willing to look at the problems in the world, me included. And I think some of them forget that problems aren’t what makes the world go round.”

Christian nodded. “And the world needs people who focus on the problems; otherwise, we might not take them as seriously as we should.”

“I think you’re giving the pessimists too much credit.”

“Maybe it’s just because I’m naturally a happy-go-lucky person...apparently.”

That brought a laugh from the general. “Fair enough. All the same, it’s nice to have someone around here I can rely on to do their job well and also to be agreeable.”

“Well, that’s not the worst way someone has ever described me,” Christian said with amusement.

General Winter winced, tapping the top of the desk. “Well...okay, that was a terrible compliment, wasn’t it? I mean to say, if there were anyone I would choose to work alongside, knowing what I know now, I would choose you a thousand times over.”

Christian had been joking when he’d commented on the general’s compliment. Hearing an even better compliment from his lips left Christian with an open mouth and a still tongue. Color flooded his cheeks as he desperately tried to think of something to say that wouldn’t sound like some cheesy soundbite and came up with nothing.

The only source of comfort from his embarrassment was that the general looked a little bashful. Anyone who didn’t see him day in and day out might think General Winter was feeling grumpy or thinking a little too hard. Yet Christian had no other name for the creased brow and ever so slight pink on his cheek than embarrassment.

“I’m not even going to try to come back with anything because it’s all going to sound stupid. So I’m just going to sit here and feel incredibly touched and thankful that I have someone like you to work under,” Christian managed to say, proud that he didn’t stutter over a single word.

General Winter continued to stare at him for what felt like forever. Christian found himself gazing into the pale green of the man’s eyes for longer than he could ever remember doing before. For a moment, he watched the older man’s lips twitch, and Christian’s heart raced, wondering what was going to be said. He couldn’t help but feel a slight twinge of disappointment when the general straightened instead, his features realigning to a dignified poise.

“Thank you, Christian, this has been a good lunch. Try to take advantage of the slow day and not work yourself to death,” General Winter said as he retreated toward his office door.

“I make no promises,” Christian called after him.

“I know.”

It had been an odd moment. Christian couldn’t say how he knew, but he’d been left with the impression that the general needed to say or do something rather than continue their staring match. Maybe the compliment shouldn’t have affected him as much as it did, but Christian couldn’t help basking in the warmth of a genuinely lovely comment as he turned his attention back to his work.

It wasn’t until a few minutes later, as he was checking over the next day’s schedule, that it occurred to him that General Winter had just...talked to him. It wasn’t like they hadn’t had conversations or passed different tidbits about one another casually across a room or desk. But it was the first time he could remember the two of them just having a one-on-one conversation. It left him feeling warm and wondering if the general was lonelier than he seemed.