AN ANGEL FOR VINCENT

BY

MARGARET NOEL

It had snowed. It was still snowing. It had snowed so much; infact, the city had been all but shut down. Catherine was bored andrestless. She had been stuck in her apartment for two days withnothing to do and no one for company. Not even Vincent had beenwilling to brave the elements. Thoughts of him sent her to thebalcony. Glancing out at the night sky a delighted smile crossed herface. An idea had formed. Racing to her closet Catherine pulled out aheavy sweater, leggings, and ski pants. In minutes she was headed forthe tunnel entrance in the basement of her building. Just as she hadknown he would be, Vincent was waiting for her.

Taking in her manner of dress, boots, parka, ski pants, scarf andgloves, Vincent raised a questioning eyebrow, "I realize the weatherhas been inclement but aren't you a little overdressed, even for thetunnels?"

Catherine laughed. "The snow is letting up and the moon is out.It's a perfect night for a walk. Given the weather we would have thepark all to ourselves. Please Vincent, come for a walk with me."Unable to refuse her anything he readily agreed.

A short time later they strolled hand in hand out of the drainagetunnel into Central Park. It was like stepping into another world.The moon sparkled on the pristine snow with the light of a thousandflickering candles as lazy snowflakes drifted earthward. For oneperfect moment it seemed as if they were the only two people onearth. The absolute silence broken only by the sound of the snowcrunching under their footsteps.

Tugging on his hand Catherine pulled Vincent forward. "Let's makesnow angels!" she suggested as she flopped down on the snow.

"Snow angels?" He looked at her questioningly

"Vincent don't tell me you never made snow angels when you were achild."

"No" came the one word reply.

Catherine was saddened once again as she thought of Vincent'srestricted childhood. Shaking off her melancholy she smiled. "There'sa first time for everything." Lying in the snow she waved her arms upand down and opened and closed her legs giving the angel it's shape.Looking up at him she grinned, "your turn."

For a moment he did not respond, merely studied her appearance,her cheeks reddened by the cold, the snowflakes clinging to her hair," I have no need for snow angels my Catherine."

Helping her up Vincent gathered her into his arms. "The only angelI will ever need is you."

The end