Three Kids and a Handful of Change

There were three of them, maybe thirteen or fourteen years old.

Their hoodies were a little too thin for the chilly weather, and their sneakers looked worn around the edges. They weren’t loud or trying to attract attention.

Instead, they stood quietly at the counter, heads bent together as they counted coins and crumpled dollar bills.

It looked like they were solving a complicated math problem.

The cashier rang up their order.

One foot-long sandwich.

Cut into three pieces.

I heard the soft clinking of coins as they counted the last of their money.

One of the boys frowned for a second, then nodded.

They had just enough.