211. Old Acquaintance

[the_real_peace]

I can't get this song outta my head.

It's not that it's a particularly bad song, ohhhh no. 'The Sunshine of Paradise Alley.' You must've heard it, some time. I never had a problem with it. Not a one. It's just... Well, it's not my song. It's Harry's. I guess you could say it was his wife's, but the way I see it, it's his. Maybe all of the gang's.

Comments

[will_stiles]

Do you think... Um. I mean. Do you think life doesn't live up to the song, then?

[the_real_peace]

Hm? Oh. Oh, life never really matches any sort of song. It can get close in its own way--the sound, or just the feel of it--but it's always something a little different. I learned that one early on. Maybe the way they don't match up makes things more, ah, distracting, but that's about it.

The song's about a girl alone, anyway... Mostly. There's some stuff in it about a bunch of people, sure, but it's supposed to be all about this girl. You ever heard the song, kid? It's well worth a listen.

So it's not that life doesn't live up to the song. Just that the song means more than it probably should, or was meant to, anyway. I'm sure you know what I mean; it's just kind of the way things work out. But don't worry, kid; life can be a hell of a lot better than any song, and it's no good forgetting that.

[will_stiles]

I'll have to look it up, sir.

I think maybe a lot of things mean more to some people that they ever could to others. I guess I fill out a lot of paperwork that to me is just boring paperwork but to someone it means his whole business.

I have a hard time seeing things the way other people see them, though.

[the_real_peace]

You do that, kid. Might not be what you're into, but you might as well try it. It really is a hell of a song, in its own way.

You've got it right, there. Hell, a lot of things mean more to people than even they can understand. It's something to think about, the way those little things can mean so damned much to someone else... We-ell, it's part of what makes us so interesting.

Lot of people have trouble with that, too. You spend enough time with other people, and it gets easier. You learn that there're patterns in the way people act and think, and you can figure what it is they're seeing. If you get a chance to work on it, it's not a bad skill to have. Just sit around and listen to people, some time. Watch 'em, too. Keep that up long enough, and you'll know everything you need about anyone.

Near enough, anyway.