The sunset should have been beuatiful. It was beautiful to those who bothered to look at it. Most people didn't. Oh no, how could they? They are all too preoccupied by their small worries and shallow cares. They would never waste their time by noticing things like the sunset, or a butterfly, or laughter. They'r too busy gossiping, or cheating on their loved ones, or wasting thier money on big cars and new houses with swimming pools. How could they possibly notice the clouds roll across the sky when they're far too busy worrying about thier out-of-date clothes. "Out with the old and in with the new." They say. The sun dissapeared behined the horizon, the clouds closed in and it begins to rain. Instantly, umbrellas, suitcases, and newspapers make haste in sheltering the styled hair and expensive clothing of the business men and women as they end thier "overworked" day and head toward the suburbs.

One man however, does not bother in protecting styled hair, because he has never styled his hair in his life. Thick locks of greying hair stick wildly in all directions. His face is dirty and unshaven. He does not fuss over his expensive clothes because, well, he's not wearing anything expensive. He wears the only outfit he owns. Sandals that must be taped together, tattered jeans, and a 'Hard Rock Hotel' sweatshirt he won in a card game a few months back. The man sighs and puffs his cigaratte, he sits quietly under a pavillion in the park. He decides that no one will kick him out here. No harm in a little shelter from rain, he thinks. Though, it is verry pretty rain. He wonders how something so pretty could be so cold.

A stressed, and frazzled-looking woman pulls a little girl, no older than seven the old man guesses, by the wrist. The mother is trying to convince the girl to stay under the umbrella. The old man wishes that he had a stove and a kettle so he could make tea for them. Then maybe, the stressed mother and her sweet daughter would stay with him. But when mother sees old man smile, she quickens her pace and pulls daughter closer to her. Where it's safe. Daughter waves to old man and his face lights up with excitement. Wriggling free from mother's grip, she skips accross the muddy grass, towards him. Her braids flapping out behined her, pink dress is soaking it the rain.

Daughter greets him in a small voice, but a friendly voice, nonetheless. She is not upset that old man has dirt all over is hands. She holds them anyway. Old man tells her that he wishes he could make her tea, and daughter protests. She says of course they can. And mother comes running to see old mand and daughter giggling and sipping imaginary tea out of daughter's plastic play tea set. Mother tells daughter that it is time to go. Daughter lookes at her with sad eyes; old man lookes at her with sad eyes. She asks her mother if she could please wait just one minute. Mother says no. Old man says it's ok and hugs daughter goodbye. Mother pulls her daughter from his grip. Old man smiles at her anyway. Daughter gives old man her tea set and waves. Tears in the rain.

Daughter and Old Man never see each other again.

When mother and daughter arrived at their big suburban home, father was watching TV on his big screen. He smiled and asked daughter how her day was. She does not answer, she avoides his hug. Quickly, so quickly, shegoes to the garage. She takes her favorate Christmas-tree ornamant from an old cardboard box and brushes the dust off of it. It is a big, brass bell. She begins to ring it. Mother asks what in her right mind does she think she's doing. What will the neighbors say when they hear all this racket? Daughter rings the bell again. Father askes her for the last time what she is doing. Daughter smiles at her parents and says:

"There is an angel stuck on earth, and he needs me to give him wings."

Never turn your back on that odd charecter that everyone else avoids, never walk away from old man smiling at you from the park bench. It just might be, oh, it just might be and angel knocking at our door.