Marvin looked in the mirror and thought, “I’m old”. He had been looking at his face for seventy-five years. He barely recognized himself. His face had sunken in and his skin was pasty. He stared at his swollen nose and bushy eyebrows through lifeless eyes.
He was old and ready to die. His wife had died. The dog he got to keep him company died. His friends were gone. Even the neighbors had moved or died.
It was time. He knew it. He felt it. Wearing this attitude he crossed the street without looking in either direction.
When he bumped into the VW bug at the STOP sign he fell to the ground.
Marvin lay on his side, eyes closed. He knew he wasn’t seriously hurt, definitely not dead. He had banged his head. He felt the pounding behind his eyes. “Are you alright?” he heard her yell. He decided to open his eyes even thought he didn’t want to. It was so bright he thought maybe he had died after all, and was in heaven.
“Color,” he screamed. “I can see color.” Tears filled his eyes making the colors blend. Everything was beautiful.
Marvin let the girl help him up. “What color are your eyes?” he asked her. “Why blue, my eyes are blue,” she replied.
“Blue, beautiful blue, “ he cried. All his life he had been colorblind. Everything the same color, just in different shades. “Thank you so much,” he whispered.
Suddenly he didn’t feel old anymore. Smiling, he stared at the blue sky and crossed the street. A truck hit him. Hard.
The Buzzy Donahue Show 