She saw him coming,
And a thrill of recognition
Passed through her.
Oh, the alley was rather dark
As she struggled to keep pace
With her long-legged brother,
Yet she felt sure it was him
Up ahead.
Coming their way,
Rapidly coming closer.
It had been daylight when
The two teens set out,
But darkness came early
This time of year
And the city lights were blazing
When they left the store,
Each bearing a new purchase
In a crisp paper bag.
Her brother figured the alley
Was a good shortcut home.
Their parents might not have agreed,
But tonight they were on their own.
And he was coming.
She had secretly loved him
For a long time,
An all-consuming girlish devotion
For a grown man
Forever out of her reach.
It was more than just
The difference in their ages;
You see,
He was a priest.
Onward he came,
Wearing the customary
Black suit and Roman collar
That set him apart;
How handsome he looked!
Oh, slow down,
Slow down,
The girl inwardly begged,
But they were just two schoolkids
To him,
On a night like any other.
As they passed,
He spared them a fleeting glance,
A hurried greeting
In the Irish brogue
That gave her such joy.
He did not for an instant ponder
The remarkable twist of fate
That had brought them together
In a dim Van Nuys alley
On that long-ago autumn night.
And then he was gone.
But the girl –
Oh, she tucked that magical moment
Into her heart
And treasured it
For the rest of her life.