[ WP ] An immortal meets another immortal for the first time

On the corner of Second Street and Commerce there ’ s a bus stop, a nice one with a bench, three walls and a roof. Two of the walls are a tough clear plastic and the ceiling an opaque blue, the third wall is made of the same clear plastic but inside is a rain stained advertisement for a movie that isn ’ t in the theaters anymore. The sidewalk is spotted with old gum that didn ’ t make it into the trash can a few feet away and stained with cheap liquor and piss that started out as cheap liquor. It ’ s home to Paul, a homeless man. 
 
 During the day, while Paul isn ’ t drinking or sleeping in the bus stop he pan handles a few streets away making a few dollars a day. When the sun goes down and the tourists are gone he walks past the Alamo on his way to a bar that ’ ll give him food wether he has money or not and then to a liquor store that, for money, will sell him a couple of forties. It ’ s a special deal, buy one get one for regular price. 
 
 One Sunday, after a sleepless night in the winter wind his joints were stiff and Paul decided to go for a walk. The clearing around the Alamo lets the sun shine through and keeps things warm so he thought he ’ d walk through there. The sun shone down on the clearing but things weren ’ t warm. 
 
 In front of the old building people moved in crowds- in, out, around the building but the crowds parted around a single man standing up on a step ladder he ’ d brought. The man was reading aloud from an old, old book calling out to the crowd a message of fear and damnation. Paul smiled hearing the old words and made his way through the crowds to the man and stood just in front of him listening. The speaker was old, his skin as wrinkled and tanned as the book but not quite so much as Paul, especialy while he was smiling. 
 
 After a time the man reached a stoping point and Paul interrupted him. 
 “ Fantastic book, ” he said “ I, uh, have to disagree with you on some points though. ” 
 
 The man ignored him and started shouting again. “ The damnation part specifically, ” Paul continued “ Lakes of fire, trident wielding demons. Haha. No, that ’ s not how he punishes. Ceaselessly though, you said that earlier, ” Paul shivered, he was so cold, “ you ’ ve got that bit right. ” 
 
 Then finally, the reader closed the book and looked down at Paul. “ You too, huh? ” he said. “ Yeah, ” Paul replied “ Me too. ” 
 
 Then they both turned and walked away and the stool stood alone in the sun.
