Herald

"Young Miss.....could you please tell me the time?"

"I am unaware of the time."

His owl tendency of a thick blonde brow dissatisfies my reply; blue river mist seriously doubts my chosen oblivion.

"You are unaware of the date as well?"

"I am aware of a date. I am on my way to my date. A handsome fellow incredible to watch if I shan't faint."

"If you are unaware of the time and date, how do you arrive?"

"Underneath Ursa Major as Venus takes over. That is when I meet with him."

His polished worried cycling world stops ticking; his forehead creases a red temper. Curses of blood and damnation follow as he wrings his wrist through mid air tapping a black cushioned boot commissioned by a local doctor named Marten.

"What do you laugh about? I noticed as you walked by a smile and a secret."

"Tis my secret and I shan't tell a man I meet on the street who is necessary of time."

"What is your name Miss?"

"Victoria...."

"An age long past and forgotten....."

"Yes age is long past and forgotten. Still the superficiality is a disease I suffer."

I walk away as I hear his gasp falling into a puddle of exhaust; instinct brings me to his side to catch a collarless dress shirt tightly tucked inside slacks, the black fashion of a body almost hitting the ground.

"Whatever has come over you Sir?"

"Your attire makes me feel a ghost has taken over me."

Quickly glancing to check my self up to down I am haunted as well. Never did I notice another's eyes for me; never did I think about such.

"What am I to do?"

"Here is my trench coat for these streets of trenches."

"What is your name?"

"Herald....."

"Do you always carry a newspaper?"

"Yes I await some good news."

"Then you may wait a very long time unless we can make some good news."

"If I print it they will come."

"If you lie they will stray."

"If I tell them the truth they will be in disbelief."

"Everyone to their own beliefs but the truth is a lie essentially. News is the way it comes and goes I suppose. Perhaps if we are able to accept this we won't need paper to tell us of what we should know without asking."

"Then I will be out of a job."

"Then I shall as well."

"I will be broke without food or shelter."

"Then I shall as well."

"I will be deceived and in despair."

"I will be with you."

"Why is that?"

"I am on your newspaper."

We look at a neatly colored photographic print of a young lady newly wed to a handsome Beau; the headline states, Now She is Faint.

I believe he carried me to my date.