The old man would come an sit on a stone bench in the town square. We kids gathered around him as though he were some strange creature.
One day Ted Halstatz climbed onto his lap and the old man spoke, for the first and last time, as he patted Ted's back, "Someday you will all come back, and be with me, and I with you."
Years passed; I decided to visit my boyhood village. To my surprise, many of my old friends were there, too.
In the town square we waited for days, but the old man never came back.
One day Ted Halstatz climbed onto his lap and the old man spoke, for the first and last time, as he patted Ted's back, "Someday you will all come back, and be with me, and I with you."
Years passed; I decided to visit my boyhood village. To my surprise, many of my old friends were there, too.
In the town square we waited for days, but the old man never came back.
