Ruby did not protest on my actions. She just watched me put the plates down with very wide eyes that were trying not to look at the food directly because if she looked at the food directly she was going to cry, and I knew that face because I had seen it on myself the first time I had bought decent groceries with my first donation payout four years ago.
When you begin to earn, you realise the true value of everything.
"Let's sit and eat."
She sat down beside me. Then, she picked up the fork, held it but did not move.
"Ruby."
"Yes."
I said calmly, "If you finish that plate and want a second, I will make you a second. If you finish the second and want a third, I will make you a third. Today is not a normal eating day. Today is whatever-you-need-day. Yes?"
She looked up at me with an expression I genuinely could not parse, "...Whatever I need?"
"Whatever you need."
She took the first bite She chewed slowly and then swallowed, her eyes closed.
Then she ate.
