Mr. Rin-ti-tin was a depressing geezer. He was nicknamed so, because of the scraping sound his walker was making when he was pushing it down the sidewalk. Or maybe the nickname came up because anyone whose gaze fell on the small, bent-over man would not but imagine him falling down a staircase bouncing off every step like a tin can making sounds like that of the nickname. Who cares that the name had once belonged to a particular dog? Students from the university in town lived in the neighborhood, and one of them had recently given the geezer his nickname, which was clever and humorous and, of course, with a certain dose of malice in it that it so fitted the story we tell.

On that day, Mr. Rin-tin-tin was slowly lumbering down the street, as usual. He had a stroke a few years back, and his left leg and arm weren't as responsive as the right side of his body – therefore, he needed a walker. Besides his disability, which caused him physical suffering, the older man also felt grief due to loneliness. Two years ago, his wife passed away, and the neighborhood, as mentioned, was mainly occupied by students who moved in and out of the houses strewing the street every year, so he couldn't get to know and have a deep conversation with them, no matter how much he wished to. His single remaining 'real' neighbor was an elderly lady with whom Rin-tin-tin quarreled and wasn't on talking terms. The only person he could speak with was the health aide who came to his house from time to time and the clerks at the supermarket.

It was somewhat of a chilly day in October. Some would say it was a pleasant day, some – not so much. Rin-tin-tin thought it was a nasty day. Besides all, he had been feeling somewhat tired. He wondered how to describe his condition. It was 'heavylight', he concluded. The state of fatigue was interrupted by episodes of extra strength. The man decided that it would be better just to go home and lie down. He dragged himself to his house, entered his room, and lied in bed with his clothes on. He closed his eyes. The room started spinning, but the feeling wasn't bad. Anyway, the sensations of the older man's body were coming from far, far away. He knew he was deep asleep and he was dreaming.

In his dream, Rin-tin-tin woke up and sat on the edge of his bed. He looked around. His room was dark, austere and somewhat unwelcoming. Besides the bed and the walker, other furniture included a desk and a chair beside it. The man didn't feel like spending more time in the gloomy room, so he walked out in the hallway and then out in front of his house. Outside was, after all a pleasant day – that's how he felt it now, even though it wasn't warm. A chilly day indeed – thought the older man. Besides temperature, the day offered light, which was also due to the sun, hanging on the sky and many autumn leaves, which were strewn around and decorated the world in yellow, red, and brown. It was a great day, or so it seemed to Rin-tin-tin. He started walking cheerfully down the sidewalk and passed a couple of young people, to whom he friendly nodded. The couple didn't respond, but he thought it was expected – after all, he was still dreaming. With a rapid pace, he reached the end of the block. That was the farthest he had gone since his stroke occurred. He bought an electric scooter with his medical insurance for farther distances. Dreaming, Rin-tin-tin decided to turn left. He kept walking and whistled happily. How could he not be happy? What a wonderful dream it was! He felt the coolness, the slight breeze, and the dry leaves crunching under his feet. Walking by itself was such a pleasant experience! It made him feel free, so much so that he started walking faster until he began to run. He was sprinting without even getting winded. He leaped and, for a second, hung in the air. Of course. It was a dream, and he could fly. He jumped again and hung above the ground for a bit longer. On the third attempt, he got the hang of it. He was flying. He was running in the air towards the sun, low on the horizon at four o'clock. There he disappeared, Rin-tin-tin – straight in the sun. He merged with it.

Of course, he never woke up.