"It's a Wonderful Life" does Peculiar Prelude - Two Word Challenge

 "Hey, you there – don't jump."

A short, balding man with a twinkle in his eye and appearing to be ageless, yet elderly, caught the younger man by the arm, and stopped him from plunging into the icy river.

"Clarence is my name and saving is my game. What is your name, sir, – you, who almost perished here tonight?"

"My name is George. George Bahley. But what– how did you get here? I was alone. There was nobody HERE."

"George, I am an angel, but a bad one, I'm afraid. I saved you, George, because you are important to your community. I want to show you what would have happened in your town of Rock Falls had you died tonight."

"George, if you had died, this is how your future would look."

Clarence took George on a tour of Rock Falls.

Gone were the Halls of Spirituality. In their place were empty halls, silent, where no choirs sang.

Gone were the fields of lush meadows where townsfolk romped. In their place were asphalt blacktops, playgrounds only for too-hard running, for falling down and getting knees skinned.

Gone were the parklands of communal cooperation, a place where all had convened. In their place were bands of masked thieves, rapiers by their side, who slashed wildly in the night, blindly stealing joy.

Despair hung like a pall over Rock Falls.

"Where are my children and my friends?' George asked.

"You weren't here, George; they weren't born. The Rock Falls you knew--one of shared community—could not survive—and now is shuttered up. That community is gone because you weren't here to spread the joy that only you can spread.

"Is there no chance, Clarence?"

 "Yes, there is one chance, George. You CAN see Rock Falls the way you left it."

"What do I do, Clarence?"

"Make a commitment to stay. Spread your joy. Rock Falls needs you."

And with that, a little bell rung; Clarence got his wings and George returned home to a fabulous party, now in progress at his home.

"Mary, I'm SO happy to be home. This IS a wonderful life, but I tell you, I've just had the MOST peculiar prelude to this evening…"

And so the party continues…