The old man awoke from his vivid dream in a small shed in the alley.Outside,the last of the Christmas snow was steaming away beneath a bright sun.He arose and walked out into Tiple Street,and he saw a line forming in front of the homeless shelter there,waiting for hot coffee and donuts.Plodding through the slush,he passed the front door of the Mudcat Cafe,and paused.Just for a moment,he saw the young man staring back at him,the young eyes super-imposed on his world-weary ones,and did he see her reflection in the glass,standing smiling at his shoulder? But he turned,and the street around him was empty,people taking the usual care to give the homeless man a wide berth.He looked back to the glass,the image dissolving as the door opened.

Bleary-eyed,LEJ still managed a smile."No liquor,yet,my friend,but I can offer you some coffee and left-over Christmas ham,"said the bartender.The old man entered the now familiar tavern,noticing that all of the candles save two had been snuffed.These two gave a bright glow to their little corner,and the old man said "why do you keep those two burning?" The bartender smiled and said "one is for a child,and one for an angel,and we will keep both lit as long as this place stands." And as the old man sat down to his meal,he wondered that his life,which had felt like an old watch winding down,had suddenly taken on the feel of a new adventure which was opening to him.