*****

The bartender approached us as we sat at the barstools. "Hey old man, I told you no peddling around here."

My accumulated tension vociferated as I said, "Hey, he's with me." He backed off seeing as I was wearing a tux. "We'll have two Buds."

The old man whispered, "Whiskey." He grinned. "Seems to me you could use some strong stuff."

"Whiskey," I yelled, "Two." We shot those back and had one more before the alcohol warmed our blood and we fell into slackness. I needed it desperately since I had been feeling for so longriddled with anxiety. Somehow this man and these drinks relieved my heart and my soul.

I took a twenty out of my wallet and left it on the bar. Twenty dollars in this bar should do a lot. Staring straight ahead I asked the old man if I knew him. He didn't answer and when I looked back to him he just grinned, "Sure you do and I know you."

"How?"

"How old are you boy?"

"Twenty-seven."

"Young, very young. Too young to be getting caught up with one woman. I wish I had tasted as mmmmmany women as possible when I was twenty-seven. Jujujust lick'em up, that's what I'd do." His stutter seem to comfort me even more.

"Oh, I'm sure you had your fill."

"To be perfectly honest I never had any."

What was the deal I thought? Was this guy gay and now somehow regretted it? Do I dare ask? I decided to question him. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, I kissed once. I was about ten and I followed Shirley Parker home from school everyday. Except this day I pushed her from behind. She ignored me, but I kept going. ÔShirley,' I said and would nudge her shoulder thinking she would turn around. Ddddddon't know why I was doing it. Just seemed right, but she wouldn't turn. If she had turned, I would have stopped, but she didn't till I pushed her. Too hard I pushed her, and she fell on the grass, her books spreading around her head. I jumped on her and stuck my lips to hers."

"Did she push you off?"

"No, so I kept kissing. Then I felt wetness on my cheeks and I saw she was crying. She didn't move or try to run away; she just cried silently. It scared me. I never wanted to make her cry. No, I never wanted that."

"So you never kissed another women after that? Just cause she cried?" I asked.

"How did you get to be twenty-seven without a single sensitive sense?"

"She was ten. All girls cry when they're ten." I replied.

"Not without reason. And that time I gave her a good reason to cry. Myself was all I cared about, but at that moment I knew I could change my destiny and care for others-- dedicate my life to the happiness of others."

"Yeah right, and how'd you do that?"

"I became a Priest."

"You were a Priest?"

"I am a Priest."

"A whiskey drinking Priest?"

"I recently got my sight back, just celebrating. Anyway, no law against it."

"No, I suppose not. I used to know a blind Priest. He was supposed to marry us today."

"I know Father Feenan."

Now this blew my mind because this was a drunk from the alley. I knew I needed to get back to the wedding, but this was too eerie. I wanted to know the connection-- even if I had to sit here all day. "You mean knew him? I sorry to tell you this but he passed away."

"I know him."

I corrected this stranger. "You mean you KNEW him."

He shook his head. "Actually, I just met him. Lovely man. I believe he'sfinally come to terms with his life."

What did he mean by that and who the hell was this guy?