Hugh didn't ask her what she had found so funny, not because he was suspicious that she would seize his cookies if he uttered a word, but because her joy and laugher had infected him. He joined her and allowed himself to let out his own joy and share in the moment's positive emotion.

They both calmed down, wiping stray tears from their eyes. A sudden giggle would pip up and deep breaths would quiet them down. They returned to their food and ate in silence, their spirits lifted by their shared laughter.

Time moved on and it soon came time to go.

They tidied up the apple cores, rolled up the small bags now absent of peanuts, brushed away breadcrumbs, balled up the cellophane wrappers, and sealed all of it away inside the plastic containers. Despite having less items to return to her bag, Hugh was still astonished how it even possessed enough space for the two containers.

He was convinced that the bag was cursed and that he needed to mention it to Masha the next time their paths crossed.

“It's time head home.” The black-haired girl said and slung her bag onto her back. “I have a lot of cleaning to do, and it won't do it itself. You know, you put it off and then bam, there are piles of dishes and a dust everywhere.”

“I'm going home as well,” Hugh said after an imperceptible pause to consider what the black-haired girl had just said. She had spoken as if she were the homeowner, living alone, and not a young girl of about eleven living with her parents. “I have some work to do and, you know, it won't do it itself.”

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