I bumped into some old friends down the street the other day. Well at least, I think I did, it certainly looked like them.
Weary from being stuck inside, the social opportunity sparked me into action:
“Gidday guys, how you going?
Yeah I’m doing OK, got everything I need, lots of people worse off. You know can’t complain, no-one would listen anyway.
Oh well we cant linger, I’ll see you ‘round next time.
Hopefully we’ll open up soon?
Cheers, see you then!”
Walking away I processed the interaction. While I was busy talking excitedly they had sort of raised their eyebrows, looked at each other, maybe nodded, but didn’t really say anything.
Maybe it wasn’t my friends but just some random, if polite strangers? It’s hard to know these days, as we’re all a bit covered up, which makes it bit hard to recognise people and know who’s who.
Well, hopefully whoever they were, they took as much from the encounter as I did.
The weird thing I wanted to tell them though, but now being unsure that I actually knew them, I’m glad I didn’t, is that under the mask, I am actually smiling. I know they couldn’t see it, and neither can I, or that other person from earlier with the beautiful dog, or the cute toddler that waved hello, or that person walking alone I passed just now.
To all of you – I’m still smiling
I hope you are too.
Derek Green, Managing Editor
editor@thewestsider.com.au
