"Would you care to stop and share my quiet place?", he asked, "There are not so many of them left these days."

The lady sat down beside Caphir and looked at all the balls and rings. "What are these things?", she asked. "The tools of a juggler's trade," answered Caphir.

"This one is so beautiful, it must be very special," she said and she picked up Caphir's heart and held it in her two hands.

Caphir looked at her for a long time and at his heart cradled in her hands. He had not looked at his heart for many years. Now he saw how the rough treatment had gradually polished it like a stone from a stream bed. It had a deep patina, had grown rich and shown like a jewel.

"You can see it?" whispered Caphir. "Of course," she answered with wonder in her eyes. "How could one not see a thing so completely lovely?"

''You should have it then," said Caphir, "But there is this silver chain and..." "I know," she said, "But that makes it all the more wonderful."

Caphir was astounded. It had been a very long time since he had dared to dream that such a thing could happen. He remembered that once there was a dark-eyed lady who could read the stars and read eyes. She

had said she knew his heart was there, tumbling along in the dust, but that like the rest of the world, she could not see it. She saw only its reflection in his eyes. There were some few others who could see its shadow, but nothing and no one like this.

Caphir looked back at the lady beside him. Gently she placed his heart in his hands. "Here," she said, "You will need this when you juggle, for other s should still try to see. Besides, all of us have a kind of chain, so we cannot give our hearts completely to anyone. But I will stay with you because I have looked for a very long time for a man who had this special thing."

Caphir touched her hair and smiled, "But why have I not found you sooner?" he asked. "Because," she replied , "You did not come often enough to the quiet places, nor did you look closely enough at the quiet people. Some of us live very ordinary lives. We can do nothing unusual. Our only talent lies. in our ability to love those who have exceptional hearts and exceptional love."

Caphir stretched out his hand and let the sun glisten off his heart as he held it. For all he had suffered, he was deeply happy that he had chosen to keep this unusual gift. He knew that there would be more pain in his life, that his heart would take a few more bumps and jolts.

But now they would not be taken alone. There was someone who could share and understand his capacity for joy and sorrow, his compassion and love.

The light moved softly in the quiet place and Caphir stood up. He gathered together the balls and the rings and clubs and he reached out his hand to the lady.

Together they slowly walked away with Caphir's heart bumping along behind them.

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