memories past

connections

Chapter 2.

Connections.

Sitting on his scooter, looking over the water just trying to keep it together. Tears welled in his eyes. Apparently he was looking at the water pretty intensely, because he heard a soft, gental voice besides him. Startled by the voice he jumped, and turned towards the voice. It was a young lady.

“excuse- me?,what did you say?” he asked. Confused.

“I asked if you were alright. You look mighty upset about something. Can I help?”

“oh… dear, I am fine. Worried is more the feeling I am feeling.”

“ oh if youre sure.. if I may ask, what are you worried about? I find that most of the things we are worried about turn out to be nothing in the end.”

 “ young lady that is the nicest thing said to me, I have had in a long while. “

The lady smiled at him and continued reading her book.  With that Andrew continued  staring at the river. Some time while he was staring at the river, the lady had quietly left. This didn’t improve his mood. He felt like he had missed his time to talk to some one and make his last connection in his life.  As he was getting ready to leave the young lady came back.

She tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around, shocked that she had returned. Never mind the fact that she wanted to talk to him. His heart soared.

“ yes,? Oh its you, hello dear. “

“hey, I brought something I thought would brighten your day. I went home and made us some food. I have a feeling, tell me if I am wrong, that you need someone to spend time with.”

“well, thank you my dear, that would be lovely. Yes I could definitely use the company. “

The young lady spread out a blanket she had on the ground so she can serve them both.  She brought all these containers and paper plates and plastic forks. There was fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn off the cob, bisquets. There was strawberry cream pie. And a tin of chocolate chip cookies. She served them and began eating.

“hurry, eat while its hot.” She smiled and encouraged him to eat.

Andrew started eating. The skin on the fried chicken was so tasty, he never wanted the taste to go away. He ate quick. He couldn’t remember the last time he enjoyed a meal like this before.

“ Thank you very much, you didn’t have to do this. I truly appreciate it though. “ he spoke as he was wiping his mouth.

“ Who wants to talk on an empty stomach?” she stopped, then began again. “ I know I don’t want to listen on an empty stomach.” She laughed. hoped to help Andrew out.

“ Well, let me introduce myself. My name is Andrew. I am 78 years old. I just found out that I have cancer. I am having a hard time with the news. I was going to either kill a bunch of people and myself today or just myself. I still haven’t decided how I want to go out. “

When this info didn’t shock her, or make her flinch, he decided to go on..

“ It was your kindness that may have saved lives today.” He smiled at her. “ Thank you, what is your name? “

“ My name is Margaret. I am 30 years old. My mother passed away two days ago. I'm still in shock. I don’t know how to process it. Mother killed herself, you see. The note said that she couldn’t live life anymore. That she felt no connection to her world and or to her body. She jumped off a building. Can you imagine?”

“ Thank goodness you are old enough to understand that it had nothing to do with you or what you were doing. Some people never get that. Some people lose their connection to their worlds for the silliest reasons.