Brian's Return

Brian goes to see Caleb Lancaster, an ex-cop and counselor recommended by the police. When he first arrives, Brian is convinced that Caleb will not be able to tell him anything useful and that the visit will be a waste of money that his mother doesn’t have to spare. Caleb is a tall and stocky African American man whose presence fills the small office connected to his garage. It takes Brian a moment to realize that Caleb is blind. Caleb takes no offense, and after briefly talking about the incident between Brian and the bully, Caleb asks about the woods. Brian isn’t sure how to respond, since no one can really understand what it was like for him in the wilderness. Caleb is persistent, however, and asks Brian to tell him about just one thing so that Caleb can picture it in his mind. After thinking for a moment, Brian describes a particular sunset he witnessed during the winter. He saw a sudden shaft of golden light briefly shoot through a nearby star three times in succession. He describes the colors and sounds of sky and the woods in that moment, and how much it impacted him.