Steve and Nick (Click to Show)
“A pleasant day I say ol’ Nick?” The old man inquires to his equally old friend. These men are seated on a bench overlooking the neighbourhood street. The day was indeed pleasant and the neighbourhood was bustling with movement from the kids playing in the street. The adolescents and adults were going about their Saturday chores.
“Indeed.” Nick replied slowly while nestling into his bench. This particular piece of furniture could be found on Nick’s porch and had a perfect view of the front garden and the street. On either side of the bench, two small tables could be found and atop these tables were tumbler glasses filled with a golden, transparent drink. Beside the owner of this bench was his neighbour and oldest friend Steve, who lives a few doors down. It has become tradition for the men to get together every Saturday, share a glass of their favourite scotch and sit on this very bench.
“Actually, all these kids playing in the streets remind me of something.” Steve replied picking up his tumbler from the side table. He eyed the drink as if he was contemplating life’s greatest mystery, while the truth of the matter was; he was suppressing some mild indigestion.
“Oh,” The house owner replied. “Do tell.” He also picked up his scotch and took a sip. His partner followed with a sip of his own before gently placing his glass back. Nick, however, held onto his glass for the time being. Putting down a glass of alcohol has always been hard for him, but his friend never judged.
“I went to Richard’s school once because there was some event,” The old man pondered the statement as if something’s amiss. “I was not exactly sure what was going on, but I do remember standing – sitting? – Oh, yes! I was sitting among many enthusiastic parents who were shouting…” He took another sip of scotch and placed the tumbler on the side table. The man then proceeded to keep quiet for a bit.
“Yes Steve?” Nick said when his friend did not continue immediately. “Go on.”
Steve gave his friend a sidelong glance as if seeing him for the first time. “Go on? Oh yes! Terribly sorry. You know me, I lose myself sometimes.” He paused before continuing. “There were many children on the field before us.” He coughed and gave his head a shake. “I do not recall exactly why they were there, but it was a big deal I imagine.”
A bunch of kids went running by, making quite a noise as they seem to be playing some form of tag. The two elderly gentlemen watched these children and smiled.
“Well, the kids were lining up on a line. I saw Richard standing among them.” Steve took a quick swig from his glass as he regarded his friend. “It was the strangest thing. All the parents were cheering, especially my daughter. She was yelling at Richard as if he was about to do something rather wonderful.”
Nick was stretching is old limbs as he did so many times. The pains and stiffness of getting old has made him weary. He rather envies the kids in front of him. He never took advantage of his physical strength when he was younger and regrets it now.
“The one adult nearby lead the kids to go down on their knees; I think it was their knees… I couldn’t quite see from where I was sitting.” He leaned forward and his voice deepened. “I saw the man take out a gun. I tried warning the other parents, but they seemed to be freaking out as well. As the man shoots the gun into the air, the kids ran away. I knew Richard was a smart kid. Hanging around madmen with guns is never good.”
Nick stared at his friend dumbfounded as he also leaned forward. “Really? The man had a weapon in public?” He choked on his own saliva for a second and washed it down with some more scotch. “That’s illegal! This country lets anyone own a gun these days!”
Steve managed to look even more serious than before now. His eyes narrowed as Nick almost sat on the edge of his seat. “That wasn’t even the worse part.”
“What? There’s more?”
“The parents, they weren’t freaking out. They were actually cheering the kids on joyfully, as if we didn’t just see attempted murder!” Steve finished his glass and placed it on the side table almost violently. The loud thwack shocked both men as they were brought back to reality. “I don’t remember much else of what happened that day, but we are all safe.”
The men both leaned back into their chairs once more and Nick stifled a yawn. “Another drink then ol’ Steve?” There was no reply from the other man, however after a few brief moments light snoring could be heard coming from the old man.
“Indeed.” Nick replied slowly while nestling into his bench. This particular piece of furniture could be found on Nick’s porch and had a perfect view of the front garden and the street. On either side of the bench, two small tables could be found and atop these tables were tumbler glasses filled with a golden, transparent drink. Beside the owner of this bench was his neighbour and oldest friend Steve, who lives a few doors down. It has become tradition for the men to get together every Saturday, share a glass of their favourite scotch and sit on this very bench.
“Actually, all these kids playing in the streets remind me of something.” Steve replied picking up his tumbler from the side table. He eyed the drink as if he was contemplating life’s greatest mystery, while the truth of the matter was; he was suppressing some mild indigestion.
“Oh,” The house owner replied. “Do tell.” He also picked up his scotch and took a sip. His partner followed with a sip of his own before gently placing his glass back. Nick, however, held onto his glass for the time being. Putting down a glass of alcohol has always been hard for him, but his friend never judged.
“I went to Richard’s school once because there was some event,” The old man pondered the statement as if something’s amiss. “I was not exactly sure what was going on, but I do remember standing – sitting? – Oh, yes! I was sitting among many enthusiastic parents who were shouting…” He took another sip of scotch and placed the tumbler on the side table. The man then proceeded to keep quiet for a bit.
“Yes Steve?” Nick said when his friend did not continue immediately. “Go on.”
Steve gave his friend a sidelong glance as if seeing him for the first time. “Go on? Oh yes! Terribly sorry. You know me, I lose myself sometimes.” He paused before continuing. “There were many children on the field before us.” He coughed and gave his head a shake. “I do not recall exactly why they were there, but it was a big deal I imagine.”
A bunch of kids went running by, making quite a noise as they seem to be playing some form of tag. The two elderly gentlemen watched these children and smiled.
“Well, the kids were lining up on a line. I saw Richard standing among them.” Steve took a quick swig from his glass as he regarded his friend. “It was the strangest thing. All the parents were cheering, especially my daughter. She was yelling at Richard as if he was about to do something rather wonderful.”
Nick was stretching is old limbs as he did so many times. The pains and stiffness of getting old has made him weary. He rather envies the kids in front of him. He never took advantage of his physical strength when he was younger and regrets it now.
“The one adult nearby lead the kids to go down on their knees; I think it was their knees… I couldn’t quite see from where I was sitting.” He leaned forward and his voice deepened. “I saw the man take out a gun. I tried warning the other parents, but they seemed to be freaking out as well. As the man shoots the gun into the air, the kids ran away. I knew Richard was a smart kid. Hanging around madmen with guns is never good.”
Nick stared at his friend dumbfounded as he also leaned forward. “Really? The man had a weapon in public?” He choked on his own saliva for a second and washed it down with some more scotch. “That’s illegal! This country lets anyone own a gun these days!”
Steve managed to look even more serious than before now. His eyes narrowed as Nick almost sat on the edge of his seat. “That wasn’t even the worse part.”
“What? There’s more?”
“The parents, they weren’t freaking out. They were actually cheering the kids on joyfully, as if we didn’t just see attempted murder!” Steve finished his glass and placed it on the side table almost violently. The loud thwack shocked both men as they were brought back to reality. “I don’t remember much else of what happened that day, but we are all safe.”
The men both leaned back into their chairs once more and Nick stifled a yawn. “Another drink then ol’ Steve?” There was no reply from the other man, however after a few brief moments light snoring could be heard coming from the old man.