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204 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2003
A man...goes to a tailor to order a new suit. The tailor takes measurements and tells him to come back next week. The man does, but when he tries on the suit, it fits terribly.
"What is this?" he says. "This sleeve is way too long and the other is too short. And the pants are tight on this side and baggy on the other."
"Relax," says the tailor. "The suit is fine. Look." He leads the man to the mirror. "You've got to bring your right shoulder back, like so. Then tilt your head to the side. That's right. Now lean like this, with your left foot forward.... "Perfect!"
"Okay," says the man, scrunching before the mirror. "Yeah, I see. It looks good." He slouches back and hobbles out of the shop and onto the street, where two women notice his strange walk.
"My God!" says one. "What happened to him?"
"I don't know," says the other. "But that's a great-looking suit."
"...I've done everything I can to chase away the unicorns and dry up the rainbows, so you can face your demons and see life for what it is: the sum total of all we've lost, divided by what we learn from it. And you'll go on suffering until you've learned your lesson. The future has slipped through your fingers, the past is gone, and you're left with nothing but this very moment, right here, right now."
"Tell me something," he said again. His voice sounded far away. "When does the night end? ... That is the question asked of the rabbi by his disciples." His voice sounded mournful, almost pleading. He turned to stare at me....
"'Does it end when you can see the morning star?' asked one.
"'No,' said the rabbi. 'That is not the time.'
"'Is it when you can see all the lines on the palm of your hand?' asked another.
"'No, that is still not the time,' said the rabbi.
"'Then when?" asked the disciples.
"'When you can look at your neighbor's face and see that it is your own. Then, at last, the long night is over.'"