Kurt

I sought out Kurt the first time I was given the "mutant problem" assignment. It took a lot of work-- my deadline came and went-- but someone finally gave me an email address. We talked like that for a while because he agreed to meet me in a Catholic monastery of all places, wearing monk's robes.

"I have not taken vows," he replied to my question, "but it is very peaceful here. Very different from what I am used to. And the brothers, they accept me because my heart is pure, despite my appearance."

I asked what the response was from the rest of the monks the first time he arrived.

"Oh, they were very shocked, certainly, but they tried not to show it. The people who arranged for this meant for the monastery to be a temporary situation until I could return quietly to Berlin. Not even I could have predicted that I would so take to the monastic life. I'm a circus performer, you know."

Did he like the quiet of the monastery after the chaos of the circus?

Kurt paused for a second. "I loved being the Amazing Nightcrawler but I think, upon reflection, that what I loved the most was the sense of family, community and acceptance. I have found the same here."