?

Sebastion envied the buzz of excitement that imbued the young ones. He was getting weary of the everyday sameness. He was glad of the security, but he needed a shot of big city life to touch base with old places. Seb did his best to re-assure Gwen and the others that he would be back, as he was learning the value of communication.

Gwen understood, and she gave him a happy send off. She would not be lonely in his absence.

So Michael took Seb to the Greyhound bus station and left him there to begin his adventure. It wouldn't have taken long to go to San Diego, but he was eager for bigger and badder. He boarded the bus for Los Angeles.

While on the bus, he went to the bathroom and put his shirt and pants in his small duffle bag, leaving him stripped down to just his dark blue shorts which he pulled low. Why did he do this? Did he want the mortals to observe him and his perfect paleness. Yes, he did.

Seb liked the bracing feel of the chilly night air which was pushing its way through the bus vents on his bare flesh. He would always be the bad boy. It felt good to him as it brought a rush of exhilaration. He, however, had been careful to put his debit card and fake ID in the shorts pocket.

A surprising emotion came over him as he exited the bus, a sudden rush of lonliness subsumed any excitement he'd had earlier. Maybe if he'd have chosen San Diego, Gwen would have accompanied him. She hated Los Angeles for its 'bad vibes' and said it was so overpopulated, people seemed insignificant as bugs. That was her impression from a visit ten years ago. Maybe it would be different now.

Still, she might have been willing to go to San Diego. There were lots of places she liked to visit there. The zoo had been extraordinary, she said. Seb reminded her, ''Is it open at night?'' Gwen looked at him, and then at her delicate skin, and said, ''I don't know . . . I'd forgotten about the sun. Sigh . . . No, you go and have a good time.''

But now the searing lonliness burned his soul like it was the raging sun. Seb looked at the bus schedule. The next one to Yuma was in the morning. He called home collect, and told everyone he was lonely and would be home as soon as possible.

And then he went to a bus bench to soak in his misery. This old life of his, he didn't really want it anymore. As he sat, musing over his odd situation, a strange man approached him.

The sandy haired, stocky middle aged man introduced himself as 'Gordon'. He'd been out walking, and wasn't sure why he ended up at the bus station. But the pale man looked attractive, so he asked if he might sit beside him. Seb noticed Gordon had 'that look' a man gets when he's desperate for a lay.

Seb was surprised the prospects no longer excited him, however . Gordon had such a lonely look in his eyes, though, that Seb did not rebuff him. What did it matter? He could not go home until morning, anyway. So he followed Gordon to the four story building which housed his apartment.

It was relatively inexpensive housing, all stucco and chicken coop, revealed by a hole that had been bashed into a corner. But it had not the depressing air of shabbiness. The grounds were kept clean and there was no graffiti. Gordon's small apartment was cluttered, but clean. Neat stacks of books lay on several folding tables.

But the bed was freshly made and its quilt smelled newly washed. Gordon was refreshingly awkward. He had not the sophistication of one who often brought young men home. Seb gave his favors in a tender fashion, as well. He was surprised at the man's salty taste. ''You taste way too salty. I'd cut back on the salt, if I were you.'' Gordon blushed, ''It must be all the fast food. I don't eat right.''

Seb was relaxing, enjoying the moment, when he sniffed and smelled an odd odor. ''It's the smell of metal burning, of great heat, of . . .'' He pulled on his shorts and threw the man his pants, ''We must get out of here fast. Something is going to explode.'' Gordon didn't want to, he wanted to enjoy his sleepy mellow. But he did as Sebastian insisted.

They clambered down the four flights of stairs, while that awful metallic heat smell grew worse. No sooner than they'd gotten to the ground, and walked a few steps away did an huge explosion go off at one end of the building. In a matter of minutes, the whole building was ablaze. There was no way anyone could have escaped in time.

Gordon was trembling, speechless for a few moments, and then he began stuttering, ''How did you? How did you? How?'' Seb explained, ''I just have a very sensitive sense of smell, is all.'' Seb held him while he continued shaking, ''Everything I owned was in there. All my history books, all my research. It's gone now.''

Gordon was clearly in shock. Fire trucks were arriving with their noisy sirens, so Seb thought it best to leave the premises. He led Gordon away to a all-night diner a block away, and ordered a cup of coffee, a glass of orange juice and a bottle of purified water. As Seb sipped the water, he pushed the juice and coffee to Gordon, who lapped at it mechanically.

Finally the worst of the shock was over and Gordon began to assess his life, ''I hate this city. I left home when I was in my twenties, hoping to find a varied and liberal environment. But I hate this city. I got a letter from my mother just a few days ago. She's going into the hospital for yet another operation on her joints. She has the rheumatoid real bad.

''Maybe I should just go home. She's having a hard time of it. She complains how she can't even pull those little tabs out of the milk cartons anymore. She spends like an hour with a knife, trying to get the right leverage. I'm gonna go home.''

An unusual glow came over Gordon, as he continued, ''It must be Fate, I'd have been home, and got burnt up. I never go out wandering at night. Something just had me up and walking. It must have been Divine Intermission, I mean Divine Intervention. It can only have been. And what mortal could smell that? Are you an angel?'' Seb laughed as he shook his head.

But Seb concurred, ''I'm not really sure what made me want to leave the farm. It was an odd sort of restlessness. As soon as I got here, I realized I didn't want to be here. But Fate must have wanted me here, in this time, in this place.''

Gordon said, ''I think I'll go to the bus station with you and get a ticket to Cleveland.'' He bent his head down, as he rummaged in his pants pockets. ''Damn! These aren't the right pants. My wallet was in another pair of jeans!''

Seb smiled, and said, ''There were several on the floor, I just grabbed the nearest.'' He reached into his shorts pocket, yes, his ID and debit card were still there. ''Don't worry. I've got our drinks covered and will get you your ticket!''

Gordon just looked at him in wonder, and declared, ''You ARE an angel!''

Go to Chapter 20, Well Understood
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