It’s just beyond me… Part XIII

Fourteenth session.-Good afternoon doctor! How are you? Sorry for the delay, I had to return to the hospital to take a couple ofmore tests … old age does not forgive. Believe me, the older you get the less sympathy you have for waitressesand bartenders and your relationship and trust is stronger  towards doctors and nurses.

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Don't laugh! It's true! When I was young the idea of spending an hour waiting to take some test seemed quite absurd and now I actually enjoy it. I like the comings and going of the waiting room and there are some very nice people with whom you'll chat and moan… and you'll feel lucky because you realise you're better off than most people! The feeling gets stronger as you get older. However, you just cannot deny you feel better when you see that even though you haven't managed to fulfil one of your goals, the person next to you hasn't managed it either and that gives you some sort of comfort… It's has nothing to do with what kind of person you are, it's human nature. Ah…

 

And the good thing is that after being happy for someone else's failure you feel guilty and you feel the need to be nicer to them… Even though he or she may be a complete stranger…

Oh yes, experience, my boy… I was also young once upon a time!

It was so very long ago… It seems like yesterday, really…

For some bizarre reason I can't quite remember, Clara and I had gone off backpacking in Belgium. we didn't eat much but we saw every single town on the map and we met interesting people who just as mad as we were back then.

 

Don't laugh… I'm sure you weren't a saint… Cheeky! May remind you I am old enough to be your mother, young man! I would like to see you when you are my age… but time always takes it's revenge… mark my words… When you are all wrinkly and your good looks have all gone I'm sure you'll remember me…

Anyway, as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted, we lived of chips, gofres and beer. Yes… very healthy.

 

It was beer who lead me to that station, know.

We had been drinking all day long with some polish friends we had met in the hostel. The thing is at some point of the evening I went to the bathroom and when I came out they had all disappeared!

Thank goodness the hippy receptionist, who surprisingly studied to be a nuclear engineer (the idea is quite contradictory if you ask me) , gave me a second copy of the room key.

 

"Just in case."- She said in a very strong Australian accent.

“Thank Gawd.”- I though as I tried to light a cigarette in the deserted platform where cargo trains whizzed past at top speed. Yes, dangerous. And it was a real pain because it was impossible to light my cigarette. And they're really scary!!!

 

I was cold and I felt sad. But then I noticed there was someone else on the platform. He was soaked and shivering. I felt lucky compared to him. And then came the guilt… so I went up to him to see if he needed any help.

“Hi.”-I smiled.

“Hey.”-He answered, shivering.

“Would you like a fag?”

"Cheers, I don't smoke.”-He tried to smile but his frozen face was quite stiff.

“As you wish, but it will warm you up you know.”

“Maybe, but I'd rather be cold than die a horrible death.”

“That's a problem for the future me… right now I'm cold!”

We both stared at the board. Our train was very late.

“I'm James…”- He stretched out a freezing cold hand.

“Hi.”-I dropped my cigarette on the floor-”I'm Miriam.”

I think it was more or less like that… anyway… maybe a little bit less like a Hollywood movie… but that's how James told the story at our wedding… and I didn't complain then so I'm not going to complain now!

I have to go doctor, it's late! I'll see you next week.

Don't take it too seriously… each chapter is great in its own way. You'll understand when you are a wise old man.

See you next week.

Thank you. Bye bye.