Joseph glances down at the cassette, and for a long moment his only reaction is the buzz of static from the headphones around his neck. Then he looks up at her like he can’t believe this is what Shelly has to offer. “Christmas carols?”

“Holiday favorites!” Shelly steps closer to Joseph, hand still outstretched. She needs this. “It’s not just Christmas music. There are a couple Hanukkah songs.”

“It’s not even winter yet.” Joseph doesn’t reach for the tape. “You gave me three tapes last time. Let’s call that a down payment. I don’t want what you’ve got to offer, but I like you. I’d like to help.” He tilts his head. “Besides, you want to know if I’ve seen your mother.”

Shelly nods, impatient. “She hasn’t come home yet.”

“I don’t need tapes for that, Little Shell. It’s yours for free. I haven’t seen her,” Joseph says. “Nobody new is out walking. The only real company I’ve got right now is Angel Lady. Everyone else is fading away.”

Estelle is there, suddenly, standing behind Joseph and frowning down at him. “Angel Lady,” she scoffs. “As if I hadn’t introduced myself. I’m perfectly polite and this is the thanks I get. Teenagers.”

“I’ve been here longer than you,” Joseph says. “I don’t know why you gotta act like you know more about everything than everyone.”

“Teenagers,” Estelle repeats, and then turns her attention to Shelly. “Poor girl, missing your mother. Let me show you my angel. It’ll make you feel better.”

Shelly doesn’t really want to look at Estelle’s angel, but she doesn’t want to be rude and Joseph is no help to her right now. “Thank you,” she says. “I’d love to see it.”

Estelle’s fogged-over glasses aren’t quite solid, but they gleam in the moonlight as she grins at Shelly. “I knew I liked you, kid,” she says. “It’s beautiful. You can’t miss it. One of the biggest tombstones in the whole cemetery. I’ve checked.”

“Little Shell,” says Joseph, before Shelly can leave to follow Estelle. “You’re not dead yet.”

Shelly shivers. She likes Joseph, but she doesn’t like the yet. “I know.”

Joseph shrugs. “Just wanted to be sure you did. I like you. Don’t want to watch you fade away.” He slides his headphones on and leans back to look at the sky again.

Shelly turns away and follows Estelle. Estelle doesn’t mind moving over graves and cutting corners, but Shelly sticks to the paths. She keeps her hair to herself all the way to Estelle’s grave.

“See?” says Estelle. “My angel.”