Hullo. There is a story by an unknown author about a young American at the time of the Second World War. He had found a book in a shop and had become intrigued by the notes written by the previous owner in the margins. After a time-consuming search, he managed to trace the woman to New York where she now lived. They started to correspond and the young man found that each reply deepened his affection for someone he had never met. A romance was budding. He sent off a photograph and asked for one in return. She replied that if he really did care for her, it shouldn’t matter what she looked like. The young man was then drafted into the army and went to fight in Europe. On the day of his return from the war they scheduled their first meeting in New York’s Grand Central Station. He would recognise her by the red rose she would be wearing in her lapel. She would recognise him by the fact he would be carrying her old book. At the appointed time the young man, now in lieutenant’s uniform saw a vision of beauty walking towards him. He started toward her, quite oblivious of the fact that she was not wearing a red rose. The girl gave him a wink and then standing behind her, he saw the woman with the red rose. She was well past forty and had greying hair tucked into a worn hat and she was more than plump. The young beauty was walking quickly away. The lieutenant felt torn in two between the young girl and this woman whose letters had supported him through the worst of the fighting. This would not be love he thought but perhaps something better than love a friendship for which he had and must be grateful. He didn’t hesitate; he straightened his uniform, held out his book and introduced himself. The woman gave a tolerant smile and said that she did not know what this was all about but the young woman who had just passed by had asked her to wear this rose in her lapel. It was something about being a test. She would be sitting in a certain restaurant.

It is a beautiful story but I’m afraid it would be less likely to happen in today’s appearance obsessed world. Although I do know a woman who is terribly handicapped and wheelchair bound in Jerusalem. She can’t control her movements and often throws her limbs about violently. A very handsome and talented man she met visited her often. One day he proposed. She replied "How could you want to marry this?". " I’m interested in what’s in the inside" he replied.