‘Kind’ wasn’t exactly a word many used to describe Cooper these days. He was crabby and old and more interested in caps than much else. But for some reason, he had been... softer, recently.

He would never admit it, of course. His gentleness. The fact that he’d been sharing -- a surprising act for the ghoul -- was not missed. Food, water -- hell, even caps, now and then. Every shiny little bauble he found was passed on, every snack split in half to offer.

He didn’t want to acknowledge the fact that he was so giving. Long ago, he reminisced inwardly, he used to be a man people looked up to. He’d long since given up that man. But he peeked through now and again, against his will. The old Cooper, who loved his family, who enjoyed the holiday time... he was annoyingly persistent.