December 20, 2023

All Aboard

“I only hope I live to see Christmas,” he whispered to me in the cold, dark alley. “Is that too much to ask?”

“I suppose not,” I replied. “Christmas is just a few days away and it’s not like you’re sick or anything. Is it?”

“No,” he looked at me in disgust. “I’m not sick. But you do see this icicle sticking out of my eye and blood gushing frantically, don’t you?”

“Oh,” I felt kind of stupid. “I guess I do notice that now.”

“Schmuck!” he screamed and then, sadly, died.

I took the money from his pocket and bought a toy train and named it after him, The Moron Express. I smile as I watch it circle around the Christmas tree and think of my friend who, really, if he’d been a better friend, would have had enough money in his pocket to buy a real train. --TK