Brandy

Fall afternoon at the University of Oregon. Sunlight dapples the leaves. Ahead is a waifish girl sitting under the shade of an oak tree, picking at a beat-up acoustic guitar. An oversized green flannel sloughs off her thin shoulders, brown hair fringing her gray eyes. At her feet is a box of donuts.

When she sees you, she stops. There's a second, a flash of what seems like nervousness before it's covered up. She nudges the box of donuts to you with her foot. "Hey. Want some?" She shrugs. "Bought too many."