What if I wanted you to have it?

We were waiting at the bus stop in the middle of the night last night. It was only 6:45, but when the sun sets at 4:30 and you are in front of a questionable bar and convenience store, a shelter around the corner, with an infant strapped to your chest, and a 3 year old not too keen on holding hands it sure feels like the middle of the night.

I was sharing my opinion of one of the songs we are singing in our ward choir (which is why we were out in the middle of the night). Words like "spiritual," and "gospel" were flying because it is a utah-written gospel-spiritual that isn't sounding very gospel or spiritual partly because of the way it is written, and partly because of the way it is being sung.

Out of no where a short, semi-crazy eyed man in a big army green jacket materialized and zoomed right up to me. In the magic of it all he seemed to shout, "No! Listen." Justin watched closely as this man proceeded to address me. "You seem like good people." he said. "You've got a calm sense about you. Bringing your kids up right. Loving them. Teaching them. Surrounding them with good music."

I glanced to Justin, hoping he could read my telepathic message to somehow get the no where man to talk to him instead of me. Materializing out of no where is pretty shocking, even if the conversation is flattering. Justin either didn't get the message, or couldn't come up with a plan fast enough to relieve me.

"I like good music." no-where man said. "You know the kind that brings people together. Stevie Wonder. But, you need other kinds to. I like Norah Jones. I don't know much about Norah Jones. People listen to rap music, you know, and I say don't do it. That ain't music, it tears people apart. No family. No love. Not like you, people shouldn't live like that."

Now I am telepathically screaming to Justin to intercept this conversation. The conversation wasn't threatening, it was just the fact that no-where man was standing closer to me than Justin was, and I can barely stand close-talking to people I know. I tried to exit the conversation by directing my attention to Reuben I smoothed the hairs poking out from under his hat. Reuben gave me a sour look, said, "don't" and moved to stand behind Justin.

"My name is ______" No-where man holds up his long-finger-nailed hand to me. "Whats yours?"

"Brecken." I say smiling, keeping my hands busy with the baby strapped to my chest.

"Nice to meet you Brecky" His hand does not go down. I reluctantly let go of Simeon's foot to shake the long-finger-nailed no-where man's hand. "I don't have any family or money, any amount, 75 cents, that will help. Norah Jones. I have this CD. Anything you have." He pulls a CD out of his pocket.

"Sorry," I say, "I don't have any cash on me." And, finally he looks to Justin.

"I've got some change, but its not much." Justin digs in his pocket and pulls out random coins (mostly pennies.) "You should keep the cd until you can get more for it."

"But, what if I want you to have it?" No-where man says.

"Well, if you insist, but I really don't have much here." Justin says.

"It's the gift of giving. I want you to have it. Norah Jones The Fall. Good music. I like Norah Jones. I don't know much about her. A gift." No-where man looks at me.

"Thank you. Happy Holidays" I say.

No-where man takes Justin's change, hands him the cellophane wrapped CD. says "Merry Christmas" and vanishes.

"When is that bus going to come?" Justin says.