ON THE ROOFTOP AFTER THE FIGHT...

... is where Henry and Bolie have their conversation about the fight. Henry made a 'big tall wish' for Bolie and the special magic that comes from youth and innocence transformed the outcome of the fight. Instead of being knocked out, Henry's hero was the victor.

The memory of what REALLY happened was still with Bolie in spite of the reaction of the world. His true cornerman told him he had the fight going away and passerbys congragulated him, including Frances, Henry's Mom. It was on the roof where Henry was tending to rabbits where the truth comes out.

"You understand Henry, I got a gut ache from wishin'. All I got to show for it is a face full of scars... and a headful of memories of all the hurt and the misery I've had to live with all my miserable life. Crazy kid, you're trying to tell me you wished me into a knockout..?" That is part of what Bolie told Henry. But Henry tried to convice him to believe in magic otherwise the big wish would come undone.

THAT'S THE WAY MAGIC WORKS

I still believe in magic. Maybe that is why this episode stayed in my mind, as it was, it predated my wanting to box. In fact Bolie made a date with Henry in the 'unwished' aftermath to take him to see a hockey game... and I would not doubt that played a role in my pestering my Mom to allow me to play the sport.

The end of the episode has Henry telling Bolie that he is too old for wishing and asked if there is magic. "...or maybe there is magic and there is wishes too. I guess the trouble is, there isn't enough people around to believe." As the show fades, Rod Serlings unforgettable voice narration concludes the episode... "Mr. Bolie Jackson who shares the most common aliement of all men. The strange and perverse disinclination to believe in a mircale. The kind of mircale that comes from the mind of a little boy, perhaps only to be found in ... The Twilight Zone."

Of the two ways that I could have taken this episode, I want everyone to know that I chose to keep believing no matter what, in wishes and to continue to hope. Even if for me, life has been filled with heartache, there has been a lot of magic and wishes. And I know that I still believe.

THERE IS STUFF BEHIND THE SCENES

Earlier last month, Lexxie sent an email asking if it was okay for her to come to visit me. The conversation between me and her Mom while respectful, left me feeling a bit tense. Then there was other complications that made it seem that the propsal was a ruse... until yesterday.

Lexxie is coming on Tuesday and we will spend three days together. She will go home on Friday morning. That is very good news and why I am more like Henry than I am Bolie. I haven't stopping wishing or believing in the things that I want for myself. Even as I 'get on my own nerves' trying to cheer myself up, I come back to asking myself a question. "No, really. What ARE you going to do?"

I know that going back to my Dad's house is temporary. There is more in me than even I think and I want to get it as much out of me as I can. Stuff to do and see, places to visit and finally settle in. What does have me a bit down is my lack of money, but what else is new?

Again, thanks for all the warm comments. And yes, the college basketball season is over for me. Sparty did go on a good run... perhaps I will expound on what their run meant to me later.