• "I'm hungry, Mary," whined Harry. "Give me some food."
    Ten year old Mary sighed. "I'm sorry, Harry. But we can't afford any food right now. Sleep."
    "I don't want to sleep. I want to eat." Harry scowled at his older sister.
    "We can't do anything, Harry. I'm sorry," Mary said softly, singing a lullaby to make him sleep.
    It was horrible, that they have to experience this kind of pain. Their parents were killed with lots of unpaid debts. the bank took everything they had, and the children were left on the street, with a box as their shelter against the rain.
    "You have bread," Harry said, refusing to go to sleep. "I want to eat. Give it to me. Please."
    "This is for tomorrow," Mary said.
    "I don't care. Please," Harry sobbed. He was only six. And he was starving.
    Mary bit her lip and gave her brother the last piece of bread. As he ate it eagerly, her stomach growled. He looked at her with his half-finished bread.
    "Here," he said, holding it out to her.
    "Oh, no, you're hungry. You eat it," Mary protested.
    "You're hungry too. Now get it before i change my mind."
    Mary hesitated, and got it.
    "Delicious," she sighed. It was actually dried bread but everything is delicious when you're starving.
    A Mercedes Benz X5 suddenly passed, splashing them with cold water from the rain. It stopped suddenly and the driver came out. He was a large man, with a big mustache and brown eyes. Despite his size, he looked friendly.
    "What are you doing here?" he shouted. Mary winced. She thought the man was nice, now she thinks he's evil.
    "We live here," she said icily.
    The man's face, previously full of fury, softened. "I feel sorry for you two. Do you want to come inside my house? It'll be very warm there, with hot chocolate and soft beds."
    "Will there be bread?" Harry demanded.
    The man chuckled. "There is. Well? Do you?"
    "Yes," Harry agreed.
    Mary pursed her lips. "Okay."
    The man led them to his brand-new car. Mary felt a bit guilty about dirtying it.
    "Mister, you do know that your car is beginning to be dirty."
    "I can live with a dirty car," the man said. "It's a lot better than your life.
    "By the way, I'm Howard," he added.
    The two siblings then learned that Howard's family died. He was left alone. The mansion he lived in was once full. But now, it's empty.
    "The children i saw were full of spite. They swore. They had no respect. They had no religion," the man added in disgust. "I walked away from them. And then i met the pair of you."
    Howard let Mary and Harry go to a Catholic school. The two learned religion and were very smart. They both grew up to have very successful careers.
    When Mary and Harry had their own families, Howard was diagnosed with cancer. It was already at a dangerous stage. No amount of medicine could save him.
    "Why didn't you tell us?" Harry said angrily. "We could've saved you!"
    "I'm sorry, son," Howard coughed. They already called each other as if they were a true family.
    "Dad, you're going to die," Mary sobbed. "Why? Aren't you scared? Don't you care at all if we're hurt by your death? Don't give up, Dad."
    Howard chuckled weakly.
    "Harry, remember the bread?" he asked.
    "Yes, i do," Harry said stiffly. It was lucky his family was out. This is surely going to be embarrassing.
    "Well, when my family died, i got depressed. I told you that i saw the spiteful children with no respect. That was actually on the day i met you. I bought bread after i met them, and it tasted horrible. And then suddenly, i was depressed. A lot more depressed than before. I wanted so terribly to die.
    "I was on my way to kill myself when i met you two. I pitied you and i felt ashamed. Your lives were worst than mine yet you chose to live. I took you home and treated you like you were my own."
    He took a deep breath while Mary quietly opened the door to let the families in.
    "When i went to sleep, i ate bread first. And to my delight, it tasted wonderful. I even ate the food i hated most, broccoli, yet it tasted like heaven! Everything in my life suddenly shone with brightness."
    "So," Mary said quietly. "Are you saying that we gave light to your life? That we're your kind of bread."
    "Well, yes," Howard said peacefully. "You're kind, brilliant and such wonderful people." He sighed in contentment. "Thank God I met you."
    Mary and Harry then sensed something terrible.
    "Don't give up, Dad," Harry said.
    "Yes, don't, please, for us," Mary begged.
    Howard turned to smile up at them. "You'll be fine," he assured them. "I know you will."
    He sighed again and turned sidewards. Mary and Harry kneeled down and hugged him."Goodbye."
    "Goodbye, Dad," the two said quietly.
    The man then closed his eyes and passed away peacefully.