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The Night Visitor - Part 2
Second in a five-part fictional holiday tale.
"Sorry, we're closed," the rest of the boys heard him say. Then, after a pause, "My God! Come in, come in, what happened to you?"
A moment later, Tony slid slowly sideways through the door, arms extended. Soon, the others saw that he was guiding, propping up really, another man, a stranger. He was short, with a pot belly but thin legs. An old fedora sat askew his bald head, above a face that was ghastly white. His glasses were thoroughly fogged, and crystals of glistening ice clung to his trim white moustache. He had on several layers of jackets and vests, working down to a frayed white shirt and thin black tie, but he had clearly been in the Arctic cold too long and was near freezing. His head shook, as he tried to reckon where he was, but failed.
Then his knees crumpled and his body folded; only Tony's strong arms, quickly encircling his waist, kept from pitching onto the concrete shop floor.
"By water," he croaked a scratchy whisper from inside Tony's embrace. "Flowers."
Part 3 of this year's Christmas tale will appear on Friday, Part 4 next Sunday, and Part 5 on Christmas Eve. To comment, e-mail csatullo@phillynews.com or call 215-854-5943.
