Murdoch drove by the lanes of Payton. He checked his watch:
"Right on point."
He looked at the sun, now laying low on the horizon. The shortest day of the year was almost over, and he got out of the car to bask in it's rays. He took a seat on a nearby bench, thinking about everything and nothing all at once. He closed his eyes, the sun's warmth in his eyelids and the flashing afterimage a bright gold in his vision.
"Excuse me, can I sit here?" a voice said.
Murdoch calmly opened his eyes and turned his head. A lynx, not much older than himself and dressed for athleticism, was still jogging.
"Sure" the fox said.
"Thank you" he said, sitting on the bench.
For a moment there was an awkward silence.
"So, you seem quite fit" said Murdoch, with a sly grin on his face.
"Oh, thank you. I find it easier to jog in winter, since it's not so hot."
"I suppose the longer nights help."
"Yeah. I'm from Canada, so I enjoy these cold nights. Handle them better than most of my friends."
"Interesting. Whelp, I guess it will be downhill from today, since the winter solstice just ended."
"Oh, didn't notice that. I thought it was going to be on Christmas?"
"Nah, it's almost always today or yesterday every year. I keep track for... personal reasons."
"You're one of those pagan folks?"
"You could say that. Does it bother you?"
"Not at all! I'm Christian myself, but I like to hear wisdom from other faiths."
"Now that's nice. I wish more people were as open minded as you."
"Well, I have to be. I'm also in a relationship with a man, so no use in being bigoted."
"Ah, same here. Guess Payton attracts gay folk like moths to a candle."
"Bisexual, actually, but yeah."
Another silence passed.
"Well, I have to get going. My name's TJ."
"Murdoch."
They shook paws - despiste the exercise, TJ's were not sweaty in the least because they couldn't be - and exchange phone numbers. After that TJ went on his merry way, leaving Murdoch to contemplate on their meeting.
Just so, the sun dipped bellow the horizon. And a lovely stoat welcomed him back home.
