He thought he was stopping for a stray dog in the snow-until he saw what she was hiding beneath her body

and found them standing awkwardly in the snow: a feed-store owner holding puppy pads, a retired teacher with a box of blankets, and a mechanic named Luis who had barely spoken to Cal before but now held an envelope in both hands.

“Heard they’ll need supplies,” Ruth said.

Cal looked at the pile in their arms. “They don’t have to—”

“Don’t start,” Ruth said.continue reading …