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“They have the room for an hour and a half”

“That’s how long the oes?”

“I don’t know I think they clean up after Why?”

“Just wondering I’y, if anyone needs me”

He picked up a prayer book and paced into the courtyard He held the book in front of his face, but the words just danced He sat down on a bench Frolance into the pavilionHe knehere the young man was seated, and could just barely make out his left side He was slu hair brushed his shoulder whenever he tilted his head

Paul suddenly felt unco, so he tucked the prayer book into his pocket and went back into the foyer He looked at the bulletin board and took down three out-of-date announcehtened the pamphlets in the visitors’ rack That didn’t take

much tie them alphabetically by title Some of the booklets had pictures but no text on the covers He decided to place those at the end of the rack Because it was “Hope Church,” there were entirely too h space He took the pamphlets from last part of the alphabet down on a nearby table He placed a stack of “Welcorab “What Would Jesus Do?” and crashed straight into so his hands on the other person’s upper arel They stood with their faces just inches apart Paul gasped and backed into the rack, causing several copies of “Membership and You” to rain down on the floor

“Sorry,” the young man said “I didn’t mean to startle you”

“It’s… I wasn’t looking”

“Well, I was just going to say thanks again for the directions” He turned away and started to walk toward the door

“Wait!” Paul called after him

The angel turned back He raised his eyebrows and tilted his head Paul had asked hi The proble to say beyond that one word

“Here,” he said, handing the young ives our service hours You’re welcome to come on Sunday We have a very nice… a very supportive community You’d like it”

“Yeah, sure Thanks,” he said as he folded the pamphlet and put it in his back pocket Then he turned and walked away

That night Paul lay awake in his bed, fascinated and troubled by his vision and eforward and beco a man, the way he looked when his face was fully revealed, the surprising affection Paul felt on discovering the sap in his teeth, the warmth from his body when they crashed by the literature rack He tried to convince hi aze on the face again the way he appreciated the beauty of other forms of nature—an expansive canyon or a sunset over the mountains But human beauty was different A scenic vista creates appreciation and wonder, but not longing For the stranger, Paul felt longing Soain He knew, as well, that si hi