Two long months passed in this fashion during which time he learned quite a bit more of the local language. Not enough to write poetry mind you, but certainly enough to order pizza, buy movie tickets or clumsily attempt to seduce a pretty local girl. It was one week to Christmas, a very important holiday in this part of the world. He had bought a ticket to go home to visit his parents, to reclaim his soul a little, to repair some of the damage caused by being one of the dispossessed for so long. The year was coming to an end, the atmosphere was festive and there seemed to be magic in the air. He went one last time to buy bread before leaving for home. This is it, he thought to himself.

The line was longer than usual and they seemed busier. He smiled as he usually did before any mission that called on inner strength and untested reserves. It was soon his turn. He looked straight into those amused eyes and addressed her in the local tongue.

“I would like some bread.”

The local tongue had no word for “please”; it was all in the smile behind the voice. She was momentarily startled, but regained her composure quickly. The amused look that was normally reserved for him faded and was replaced with a slightly worried one. She pointed and shrugged, but he didn’t follow her hand. He continued looking at her.

“What do you recommend?”

“It depends on what you like.”

She had responded in English and his resolve wavered. Sighing inwardly, he continued in English as well.

“What do you like?”

She gave him a dubious look and thought for a few moments glancing briefly at the long line of people behind this troublemaker, people waiting their turn with diminishing patience.

“Well, I don’t like my bread to have seeds or other stuff, so I would recommend the white bread. It’s our special of the day. Only — “

“Sounds good”, he said, interrupting her, “I’ll take one.”

She handed him a mutant, outsize loaf and he paid for it in silence. Now would come the critical question and sure enough,

“Anything else?”

“Yes”, he said switching back to the local tongue, “I am leaving town for three weeks and I wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

She smiled and the smile reached her eyes. Ah, to see that smile every day, he thought idly.

“Thank you. Wishing you the same as well.”

“I hope to see you when I return from my holiday.”

“Yes, so do I”, she said smiling easily now and the sensation was pleasant.

“See you next year.” He flashed his most charming smile to support that feeble joke.

He returned refreshed and rejuvenated. Vacation agreed with him and he felt ready to take on half the world in general and one bread girl in particular. He prepared for battle and went looking for her in the same grocery store. When she didn’t show up, he searched every grocery store belonging to the same chain within the city limits. And then other grocery stores…

He never saw her again.