Old Man Donovan sat on his bench in Cranberry Park. He will soon be dead but not before he encounters something, out of the Evening Zone.

A little girl runs out of the growing darkness to Donovan, crying. Donovan has never seen her before in his life, but he has seen this type of thing happen many a time before

“I’mm so SORRY !” she sobs, falling into his lap.

He comforts her, saying, in a tone honed by years of practice, “It’s okay, it’s all right. I forgive you, and so will your parents.”

“Really?” she sniffs.
“Yes, dear”
“If I had done it a second time, would they still forgive me?
“Of course”

“Oh, good.” She smiles, then bites his head off.