I always saw him as I passed by, on the same bench every morning feeding the birds from a brown paper bag. I think I was the only person who ever noticed him there. Apart from the birds; they always came to him. Flocking around his feet as he threw handfuls of bread to them. It was a constant amazement to see how much that brown paper bag could hold. It seemed an endless stream.1
That morning I sat down beside him to watch. It was a chilly New York morning and I clutched my coat to my body yet he wore no coat or hat and his wizened hands were not blue as they fed the pidgeons. I had difficulty in determining his age, even though he had the lines of a man in his later years, his eyes were a piercing blue and gave the impression of agelessness.2
I began to read my magazine when I heard him speak for the first time.3
"You come past every day my dear yet you look so sad."4
He had not looked in my direction as he spoke but I knew he intended me to answer.5
"I go to work this way each morning, I am not sad, why do you say that?"6
He sighed, "You have the weight of the world on your young shoulders. You have lost someone close to you, and it is Sunday today, you have no need to be here."7
It was a statement not a question but I needed to answer him.8
"My husband and I have separated, he preferred my best friend to me after ten years of marriage, I like to think in this park and it's stopped snowing today so here I am. Angry and sad with no one to care for."9
He nodded, "Ah yes but you have so much more to give, it is of no use to you to be sad or angry. Yes, you have been angry and unsure of yourself but there is no need."10
I stifled a laugh, "You seem to be well informed of my life sir. How could you possibly know how I feel?"11
He turned those ocean blue eyes to me and I drew in a breath as the glow that exuded from his face was one of gentle kindness.12
"My dear I am a reader of faces, a teller of souls and I can see that your steps as you pass by are slow and unsteady. You are wandering aimlessly, looking for something you feel you have lost. It is not lost my child, it is just starting out on a new road. One you will travel."13
He had me bemused and puzzled by this assessment but his voice was soft and mellow like honey and I felt happy just to talk and while away the minutes.14
"I am in New York, alone now with no friends and no husband. Yes I sure have a new journey to take don't I?", I replied fighting back the tears that now trickled down my face.15
He offered a crisp white hankerchief which I gratefully took.16
"Child, not all in this life is apparent. Some things are meant to be and in the scheme of things you have not lost anything. In fact, you have gained your freedom. The chance to spread your wings. No friends you say, well, you are talking to me and I am a friend."17
Now the conversation was absurd and I laughed, really laughed for the first time in days.18
"I don't even know you, all that I see is that you are a lonely old man who feeds the birds every day."19
He nodded his greying head and again spread more crumbs on the ground. It was a never ending supply and the birds hurried around pecking at every morsel.20
"I am never lonely young woman."21
He raised his eyes to the heavens and made a sweeping gesture with his hand.22
"All that you see and all that you do has consequences on everyone around you. Whether you know them well or just in passing. Why, even your smile to a stranger can brighten their day as yours did to mine."23
He patted the tattered old book that lay beside him on the bench and turned to face me once more.24
"If it's solace you search for then you need look no further. If it's strength you seek then look within your soul. If it's happiness you desire then go out into the world and embrace it. For once you do these things you will find you are no longer lonely,nor angry."25
I smiled at his diatribe and felt as if I had been sitting in a church at a sermon. He made no sense yet I felt he was right. I looked up at the bright clear blue sky then turned to reply. He was gone.26
I scanned the horizon of the park to my left and right but I saw no one that so much as resembled him. I was bewildered how a man of his age could disappear into the crowd so quickly. Again the book on the bench caught my eye, he had left it behind.27
A white dove fluttered down from the tree and sat by the book, I waved it gently away for fear it would stain the man's copy. It was then that I noticed the gold writing upon the cover. I carefully picked it up and arose from the bench, turned and headed across the park towards the steeple that signified the church near my apartment.28
I felt that I needed to go and return the book to its rightful owner, somehow I knew he'd be there.29
Author notes
Can you guess the book? Can you guess who the old man is. Angels can take any form, be anywhere and help anyone. I hope you find your angel when you need them.
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 13 of 13
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Great job
this was a really wonderful story. it had a deeper meaning and it was a great story for really just one moment in time. im really glad that you wrote it and gave me the chance to read it. great job, thank you and keep writing! -
Not bad. It started off as one of those stories of two random people meeting some strange, yet common, way. This seems to have been written just to explain a moral, and it might have been a bit nicer with an extra something in there, but all in all it wasn't bad.
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Nice but....
Very clever ending, although I saw the outcome coming from a fair bit off. Moreover, it kept me interested right on through. This cow has been milked and milked and milked yet there was still a drop or two of originality in it. Another big thing is that the dialog although informative, was in fact for the lack of a better word, lame. Honestly, if a stranger(like your character) came up to me and started talking to me; I would be running for cover.
Notes:
- I is use a little to much( as well as you and other personal pronouns, i suggest throwing in "my dear" in the stranger's dialog; it seems like something he would say, unless of course you already have it in there)
-The end of paragraph 28 the word "signified" should be changed, I suggest putting "is" or something along those lines.
-Certain transition words lack commas.
-Certain facts such as the fact the bird seed seems unending are meaningless and in their short conversation would go unnoticed.
-A suggestion(just a suggestion feel free to ignore it):
the dove should come to the bird seed bag at the very end instead of for no reason and stay there pecking at the bird seed.beginning: 3, language: 3, plot: 3, ending: 4, dialog: 2, characters: 3.
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good....nice and sweet...i need an angel...i hope i find mine too...if there are any.....
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great write. good story, good dialouge. it has a deeper meaning. good job!
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This was a very good write, it was very cute and meaningful. Good luck in future writing!!
-Moose: OUT -
I thought this was a good story, and it had a nice heartfelt message attactched to it aswell.
beginning: 3, language: 4, plot: 2, ending: 4, dialog: 4, characters: 4.
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Absolutely Marvelous
This is an amazing piece, absolutely marvelous! There were no errors that I could find, and the ending was great! Finally a piece that really leaves a distinct message behind. Marverlous, Marvelous!
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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So alive
so alive......what else, makes you feel good to be alive, you're the reason i haven't posted for yonks, i just keep reading your stories over and over again..........beginning: 5, language: 4, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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The story was very engaging and what I find so intriguing about your writing is that you do not waste words. There are some stories written that I scroll through in order to get the gist of where the plot is taking me, where as yours I read word for word. Thank you for a wonderful uplifting read!
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wow... i like how you explain the protaginists actions in your story and the way they portray their emotions very well
...all i can say is great job! it's a great story!
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delightful
it was a great read, you should publish this somewhere.
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This is so beautiful
I loved this. It really spoke to my heart. I had tears and my chin got quivery. So beautifully written. Such talent. Nice flow and I didn't see any errors.
Thank you
~Syren~
beginning: 5, language: 5, plot: 5, ending: 5, dialog: 5, characters: 5.
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