Karl's Italian Adventure — Terry O'Reilly

Karl Simons, a fifty-one-year-old introverted and shy geography/history teacher, finally takes the plunge and goes on an academic tour of Italy. The first stop is Florence and La Galleria dell'Acciademia, the home of Michelangelo's famous sculpture, The David. Upon viewing the work of art, Karl begins to sense strong emotions for and connection to the statue that he cannot explain. Just before leaving the tribuna, Karl turns back to gaze once more on The David and makes a wish.

When he returns to his hotel, the place is abuzz with excitement. Unable to understand Italian, he proceeds to his room. There he finds Antonio, a naked young man, laying on his bed. Why is the man there? Where did he come from?

On learning the answers to these and other questions, Karl realizes his life will never be quite the same ever again.