"Mostly," Steve continued, "I did whatever'd keep me. Started doin' work at a grocer, sold papers, worked at the pharmacy a time or two, went to school for art until the money ran out, then I did illustration when I could and sold pictures for a coupla cents when I couldn't."

He gave Jim a faint, thankful smile.

"B--Jim here kept me pretty much kept me alive when we were younger. Roof over our heads, food in our bellies, not a lot, but it was enough to keep body and soul together."

Diana smiled at the both of them, warm and a little bittersweet.

"I can imagine such things, though I find it sad that there are so many with so little and others with so much."

"Nobody in this apartment who hasn't felt a pinch to the wallet once or twice," Steve admitted with a little shrug. "And I'll admit, it feels like it's only gotten worse since we were first kickin' around, eh, Jim?"