new friend
I saw him sitting on a bench, somewhat up the slope of the hill and out of the way of traffic. He was hunched, way overdressed for the weather, as though he expected an immenent snowstorm. He had a fedora pulled down low over his face.
I walked up and sat down, and pulled out a book. I was just finishing the last drag of my ciggarette when he asked me for one. I obliged, lighting another and laying it on the bench. We sat in companionable silence for a moment, before he started teasing me. Just little circles of energy, pulsing outward-- how strong are you? Are you afriad? What will you allow before you lash out?
Not very much, as it happens.
WE talked of weather, and the grass, and the things going on around us-- the air was especially still today, it seemed to me oppressive and sluggish.
When his ciggarette had burned down, I got up to leave. Before I did, he extracted a promise that next time, I would smoke with him, and not before. I agreed, and bid him farewell for the day.
I wonder, was he a memory, or a ghost?
I walked up and sat down, and pulled out a book. I was just finishing the last drag of my ciggarette when he asked me for one. I obliged, lighting another and laying it on the bench. We sat in companionable silence for a moment, before he started teasing me. Just little circles of energy, pulsing outward-- how strong are you? Are you afriad? What will you allow before you lash out?
Not very much, as it happens.
WE talked of weather, and the grass, and the things going on around us-- the air was especially still today, it seemed to me oppressive and sluggish.
When his ciggarette had burned down, I got up to leave. Before I did, he extracted a promise that next time, I would smoke with him, and not before. I agreed, and bid him farewell for the day.
I wonder, was he a memory, or a ghost?