Alex's Sunset
		        [by Dr.Who3]

   I was called to attend a meeting of company heads on one of the top 
floors of our building.  The CEO was going to speak to us for his usual 
mid year pep talk.  I could see one of the most recognized symbols of 
computer software in the world, our  company logo, on the back of 
each chair.  The room, one whole floor, was glass enclosed. The view 
was breathtaking.
   I think most of us expected the usual dry talk of more sales efforts 
and better service to our customers but as the he stepped on to the 
dais he took the setting sun full in his face and paused for the longest 
time.  He stood just staring at the sunset.  At first we thought he must 
be allowing his eyes to adjust to the light but as time passed and he 
just kept watching we realized that he was actually watching the 
sunset.  
  So we ALL watched the sunset in silence.  It was really something to 
see all of us in our business suits trying not to fidget as we watched 
this miracle in silence.  Someone dimmed the lighting so we could 
watch to the very end.  Many of us are not the type to take kindly to 
sitting still and being inactive for any length of time but no one dared 
to disturb the quiet and so we watched and watched and watched 
until the last ray of light was gone, leaving only the early night sky.
   The lights came back up and he turned around to speak to us.
We were all astonished to see tears in his eyes and began to wonder if 
maybe he was cracking under the strain of running so large a 
company but , again, no one dared SAY so.  We all leaned forward to 
hear just what he WOULD say.
   He said, "Just recently I learned a lesson that we need to all 
incorporate into our daily business routines.
   I live in an expensive apartment by myself, as you all know.
A few months ago, some new people moved in on the floor below.
I am a busy man and so I took little notice of them until one evening, 
at just about the time for sundown, someone rang my doorbell.
   When I opened the door I was surprised to find a little boy standing 
there.  I stuck my head farther out into the hall to see if perhaps there 
was an adult accompanying him.  While I was looking and seeing no 
one, I felt a tug on my shirt.   Looking down I saw a little hand 
tugging, "Mister will you watch the sunset with me?"
  I was flabbergasted and a bit annoyed.  "Where are your parents?", 
I asked.   He looked at me very solemnly, "Dad's at work and mom is 
resting.   She is soooo tired and I am supposed to be taking a nap but 
I want to watch the sunset but it's no good watching alone.  Sooo will 
you pleasssssse watch it with me? "  
  He looked up at me as only an innocent little boy can look when he 
trusts you to do the right thing.  "Well", I grumped, "OK, I guess you 
can, if it doesn't take long."  He saw my window and tugging me by 
the finger, led me to sit by it.   I remember thinking I was going to 
have to have a forceful talk with his parents so that my after hours 
work at home wouldn't be disturbed.  
   Just then the sunset began as if a public painting had begun.
As we watched, the boy pointed out all the different features to me.
There was a goblin cloud and a fairy cloud and the sandman's castle
and the road to Heaven but on this first of our evenings together he 
got his favorite of all sunsets [which I later came to call Alex's sunset, 
after my young friend].  This sunset has a golden ball of sun that is 
set down on the horizon but off to one side, as if God had set his 
lantern there to use later in the night, and it has pink clouds 
resembling a city with tall buildings with beautiful spires on top and a 
purple road leading up from the horizon to the Heavenly city.
   I watched till the scene had faded into night.  I was so enchanted by 
the sight and my small companion's view of it that I forgot to have 
that forceful talk with his parents after he left although I did inform 
them so they would know where he was going and could give their 
blessing or restrict him if they wished.
  Watching the magic sunset soon became a daily thing.   I sometimes 
grumbled about having to change my busy schedule to make time for 
the sunsets and would ask Alex to wait until next time but he always 
answered we must watch EVERY one that we could because, he would 
say, "What if we run out of sunsets?"  He said it so very seriously that 
I had to laugh at the picture he made standing there like the wisest 
little man on Earth.  In the face of such child like logic I just had to 
give in "one more time".   
    Just last week Alex and his family decided to go visit some 
relatives.
Alex was so excited because they were going to be flying in a plane for 
the first time.   He fairly jumped up and down as he told me about it 
all.
   As usual, I was working when they left.  Later that evening I heard 
that the plane had crashed in that fiery disaster which I am sure you 
have all seen on the news.   I was hit hard but it wasn't until today 
when I stepped up to speak to you all and looked out through the 
glass and saw Alex's sunset that I realized that he was truly a wise 
little man indeed who had known even more than I that you CAN run 
out of sunsets- just as you can run out of tomorrows too.  He paused a 
moment to swallow before continuing.  
   I say to you all - Spend the time you have wisely because you CAN 
run out of sunsets.  Never miss a chance that comes your way 
because you can run out of those too . . . .and whenever possible 
watch for Alex's sunset.
   Not a dry eye was left to see him leave the room.
                                           [End]