Eric held the cafeteria door open with a grin.

  “Let’s go in and get you some food,” he said. “I’ve got this — don’t worry about the money. The food’s good. Just get whatever looks good to you.”

  Thomas’s stomach grumbled as the smells hit him. “Good,” he said. “I’m getting hungry.”

  They moved through the line, filling their trays, and found a quiet table tucked into a corner. Thomas sat down, tray in front of him.

  “I’ll be right back,” Eric said, giving his shoulder a quick pat. “Just sit here and enjoy your meal.”

  Thomas nodded and took his first bite.

  A few minutes passed. When Eric returned, he wasn’t alone. A tall man with salt-and-pepper hair and a warm, watchful expression walked beside him.

  “Hello,” the man said, extending his hand. “I’m Isaac Jacob.”

  Thomas stood quickly, wiping his hand on his jeans. “Are you the tailor?”

  Isaac chuckled. “No, he’s busy picking out materials for you right now. I’m the manager of this shopping center. I’ve heard you’ve had quite the summer — busy doing good in your community. So, tell me — how do you plead?”

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  Thomas flushed, caught off guard by the question. “I guess… guilty?” he said with a sheepish smile. “But I don’t think I’ve done anything special. I’ve just been doing what I was taught.”

  Isaac nodded slowly. “From what I’ve heard, you’ve left a lot of people impressed. Grateful, too. Sometimes word gets around — especially when it’s about kindness. We can be a chatty bunch when something good happens.”

  He paused, letting the words settle.

  “So just relax,” he said. “We want to make sure you’re ready for the start of school. A few calls are being made to follow up on what you might need — supplies, clothes, anything else. When you’re done eating, we’ll head over to the tailor and get started.”

  Thomas looked down at his tray. “I think I’m ready.”

  “One other thing,” Isaac said. “When’s the last time you had your glasses checked?”

  Thomas gave a small laugh. “Still wearing the same ones I got as a freshman.”

  Isaac glanced toward Eric. “Let’s see when the optometrist can get him in — we’ll update his glasses too.”

  Thomas looked up, hesitating. “Look, a suit would be fine. It’s just a dinner.”

  Isaac looked him in the eye, his voice gentle but unwavering.

  “True,” he said. “But let us do this service for you. I know you didn’t do it for me. But you did it for men I consider brothers. You rescued one of them and his wife — asked nothing in return. That’s what the shekels are for. The coins you received — that’s how we mark service freely given.”

  He softened again.

  “I also hear you’re living with your best friend’s father. That your family’s… not all together right now. So you’d be doing me a big service by letting me do one for you.”

  Thomas didn’t answer right away. Then he nodded. “Okay. When you’re ready… I’m ready too.”

  Isaac smiled, placed a steady hand on his shoulder, and said, “Good. Let’s get started.”