The sounds of a town coming alive, the sounds of life begin slowly began to pour forth from the formerly silent surroundings. The song of the birds fade slowly, till seem as if they were just imagined all along. Like a scene from any place in the world, the people round this town got to their business of living.
At a house like every other house, with a small garden in front of the porch, a man opens the door. He is dressed rather casually for the day. A casual collared top, jeans with sneakers. If you were to bump into him, you'd have wondered what it was he was up to this day. A youthful looking face, a little under 6 foot tall and a fit body, it seemed it was equally likely he was off to work or college. And it wouldn't have seemed out of place if he was just out for a walk, with nothing in particular to do on this day.
He steps out, making sure to lock the door behind him and takes out a cigarette. Looking round he decides to sit on a chair that was placed next to a table by the door. The table was made of wood, nothing too fancy but sturdy. On it, there was a aluminium tray, the surface of it covered in what seemed to be black spots. Almost anyone would know immediately it was an ashtray of course, but if one didn't see the remnants and marks of the ash, they'd think it was a kind of a place where snacks would be put.
Relaxing into his seat, he pats his pockets and finds what he is looking for, a pack of matches. Muttering to himself, words seeming unintelligible, he strikes the match and lights his smoke. The first drag, it seemed as if he was taking as much in as he could as he could inhale. The cigarette left his lips and he seemed to stare off into space. He breathed out the smoke slowly, taking the opportunity to fully embrace the moment. There seemed to be no air of urgency around this man at all. He just sat there, seemingly savoring every bit of his morning treat.
Before long, the embers crept up to the filter, and the man put out the cigarette on the ashtray. He stood up, stretched out and took a deep breath. As he exhaled, a keen eye would see his body settle into an extremely relaxed state. Deliberately slow, he began walking down the path to the side of the street and off he went on a walk.
Though it seemed he had no purpose, there was a definite destination. He walked leisurely and seemed to be in no rush. He picked out a path that would take him into town by passing the local school. As he enjoyed his walk, the crowds slowly began to fill the streets. Some were dressed in office clothes, heading into town for work. Looking sharp in a well pressed shirt, slacks and matching tie. Some were parents walking their children to school. Some of the older kids were walking in their groups, content without their parents to shepherd them to school.
It was a normal day by any definition. The man walked and walked, and as he neared the school, he saw a father and his child by the school gate. The man seemed to be comforting the child whose face was as if it was close to tears. The man paused in his step as he looked upon that scene.
~~~
It seemed but a few short moments ago,
My child, you had been reluctant, but relented.
I remember the warmth that was your hand,
You were afraid, but you were brave.
It seemed time flew by too fast,
My child, you were young, and you grew.
I saw every moment, I hope I had done enough,
Your father can't share all, but I wish it was enough.
I remember watching from among the crowd,
My child, I saw you weep, I must apologize.
From afar, I watched you age, I wish it was a lie,
And one day, I was the one weeping.
~~~
I snapped out of my brief day dreaming. I knew that I shouldn't have stared. I walked up to the pair and smiled warmly to the father.
"What seems to be the problem" I said to him.
The father responded as if tired, "He doesn't want to go to school, he forgot to do his homework"
A scene that seemed so familiar yet strangely distant. I turned to the child, a young boy of about 9 years of age. It really did seem like he forgot, and felt really bad about it, you could see the tears that barely checked themselves wet his eyes. "I'm not sure what's your name, but I do know one thing. If you go to school today, and honestly apologized to your teacher, she won't scold you. You might have to work on it straight away but I don't think she can be upset with you" I said to the boy.
The child looked to his father and then to me, once more to his father and back to me. He mumbled to me, "That's what dad sad, but I don't believe him. She's scary and mean.". I looked at his father who seemed to be at his wits end as to what he should do. It seemed to be it was his first child, if he had others he would have handled it like a pro.
I looked to the child, smiling the warmest smile I could, "Alright kid, I am sure she won't scold you but if she does, you make your dad get you a present, or you can come and bug me for ice cream or something. How's that ?". The child seemed to calm down at that, he turned to his dad and said, "Really, can I do that Dad?". The father, picking up on the hint, immediately answer in the affirmative. The child seemed to be happy with this and started to walk into the compound. As he was about to enter, he turns to me and shouts "You better promise me Mister, if she scolds me you owe me Ice Cream !". I chuckled at that and shouted back, "It's a deal !" as I waved him off.
I started to make a move and get back to my walk, but the father stopped me. "Thank you, I seemed to have blanked out for a bit there and didn't know what to do. You were a great help. What is your name Sir ?". I smiled at him and said "No problem, it was nothing much. It's normal, its always easier to butt into someone else's problems and help than it ever is to solve your own. I'm Ezekiel Azuma, but you can just call me Zeke. Anyways, I have to be off, there is somewhere I need to be."
"Thank you again Zeke, hopefully I can return the favor sometime. I hope not to keep you. It's been a pleasure meeting you." he said smiling. "And I you, may we meet again soon !" I replied as I began walking off.
I arrived at my destination not too long after, a homely looking cafe. It's somewhere that I frequent quite often. It has a good cook and the coffee is pretty good. They don't smokers that much as well, and they have an indoor smoking area. Perfect for someone like me. The door sign said open, so I let myself in and waved to the staff that by now, I was very familiar with. I walked over to the smoking area, and found a seat at a corner, one of the few tables in that part of the cafe.
The waitress walked over bringing a cup and holding a flask at what I could only guess at being coffee. With a warm smile, she put the cup on a saucer plate from the table and poured me a cup. "What are you having today Zeke ?" she asked in a tone that managed give off a warm professional feel.
"I'm thinking something classic, hmm, how about toast, sausages and scrambled eggs. The usual set I mean". I said, and I noted as she scribbled down the order on a pad of paper she had retrieved from her breast pocket. "Would that be all ?" she said and I nodded in the affirmative. She nodded back, smiled and brought the flask with her back to the counter. Well, you can always ask for more coffee here, and they were nice enough to leave the creamers, milk and sugar on the table for us to decide how we like our drink. I took a few teaspoons of sugar and mixed it into my coffee.
I pulled out my pack of smokes, fumbled for a cigarette and was about to light till I noticed there wasn't an ashtray on the table. I was about to raise my hand and ask for one but I saw the waitress from before coming to the table with an ashtray. I smiled at her and said, "You read my mind". She just smiled, waving it off with the words "Of course I'd know how a regular acts".
She left to start waiting on everyone else. I paid no more mind, and I lit my cigarette, I took the first puff in a long drag. I feel the smoke as it passed my lips and rushes down my throat into my lungs. I hold it for a brief moment and let it out really slowly. Enjoying the little things keeps me sane I suppose.
I took a sip of the coffee. Sweet, just the way I enjoyed it best, and I let my mind wander once more, Moments like this are the best to kick back and just let the mind do as it pleases.
~~~
The taste of raw flesh,
The warm blood flowing out of my mouth,
It wasn't long before I began cooking it,
It seemed to taste so much better than before.
Before the rise, there was life,
After the rise, we saw growth,
No other animal indulges in cooking,
And no other species has been so hedonistic.
I remember my early meals, I don't want to,
I had no purpose for nutrition,
Nor sleep, nor water.
I just wanted to feel like all the others.
Before man, I had tried to bond with animals,
Before man, much did I long for company,
Before man, to eat was to feel like I was trying to survive,
After man, it was beyond that, and I lusted flavor.
~~~
The End
I hope you guys like the direction this is taking. Do tell me what you think in the comments !
1 comment:
I enjoyed reading this, Haziq! Please do continue.
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