(no subject)

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of root beer and he started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old man. He was sitting in the park just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie.

He gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer.

Again, he smiled at him. The boy was delighted!

They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old man, and gave him a hug.

He gave him his biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face.

She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied, "I had lunch with God."

But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? He's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked, "Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Five minute challenge fic: begin with the word "paradoxically."

Usual disclaimers. Written in 5 minutes.

Paradoxically the one thing that gave Luke his
presence also defeated him in pursuing it. Han knew
what had happened, what would happen, long before the
night a tired, defeated Luke spilled his guts all over
the Falcon's gameboard.

There had been a woman. There had been several women.
There had been a couple of men. And there had been
nothing at all.

Using the Force took so much out of Luke, he had
nothing left to give a lover.

He had the grace to look surprised when Han leaned
across the board and kissed him. His curiosity
prevented him from running.

"Who said you had to give all the time, kid? You give
to everyone: your sister, the Council, the whole damn
galaxy. When was the last time someone even bought
you a cup of kaf?"

*****

It was definitely better than kaf.

*****

Later, Luke lay beside Han in the captain's bunk,
musing on what a strange feeling it was to receive.
Han, spent, slept beside him, one arm loosely around
him. Luke surrendered and let himself take what was
offered: the warmth, the bed, the love.