There was someone there and they had been there. There was no one there. There was someone there and they had been there and they had not left but there was no one there.

The man smiled at him a sly smile. As if they knew a secret between them, these two. Something of age and youth and their claims and the justice of those claims. And of their claims upon them. The world past, the world to come. Their common transciencies. Above all a knowing deep in the bone that beauty and loss are one.

What business is it of yours where I'm from, friendo?

If people knew the story of their lives how many would then elect to live them? People speak about what is in store. But there is nothing in store. The day is made of what has come before. The world itself must be surprised at the shape of that which appears. Perhaps even God.

He didn't say a lot so I tend to remember what he did say. And I don't remember that he had a lot of patience with havin to say things twice so I learned to listen the first time.

If the rule you followed brought you to this, of what use was the rule?

You go back home and everything you wished was different is still the same and everything you wished was the same is different.