I was so hungry that I immediately grabbed the freebie, ripped open the wrapper, and ate half the ice cream sandwich in one bite as I walked away. Then I stopped dead in my tracks and repeated the words quietly:

     "No charge today, CJ." I stood frozen in place, afraid to turn around.

     The ice cream man said, "And don't forget to throw the wrapper!" He shouted the last word.

     I glanced down at the wrapper in my hand and noticed bold, black marker writing on the inside of it.

     When I turned around, the ice cream guy had disappeared. An older, grumpier guy stood in his place. I stared at him, and he obviously didn't like that.

     "You gonna just stare at me or buy another ice cream, kid?!"

     I couldn't figure out how the other guy could've slipped away like that. I ignored the old man's question and said, "Hey, did you see where the other guy went?"

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