The old man walked to the car, he opened the door slowly, deliberately, he waited a moment to smell the scent of old leather and wood wafting from inside,
he sat in, closed the door behind himself firmly and looked over his surroundings.
The midmorning sun was glinting off of the chrome dials and every now and then it would catch his eye,
After a moment he found the key and placed it firmly in the waiting hole,
Breathing deep he turned the key and the mighty engine roared to life, like some kind of wounded animal screaming out at the world.
It was a familiar sound to him and it brought him memories of the times his love would sit next to him,
he looked across to where she would have been, a small smile passed his face, he gunned the engine just a little , just like he used to when she sat with him, and would give him that knowing smile.
In this place he was king,
in his world, he had control over everything here,
the walnut and leather wrapped around him like an old blanket, he was secure and happy.
His hand found the Gear stick,
it was cold yet somehow fitted in his palm percectly,
he put the clutch down, moved the leaver into reverse and looked behind him,
The pain in his lower back served as a reminder that he was no longer the young man that had bought this car, no longer the young man that had loved in this car.
With a certain look about him he eased the clutch up and the car moved to reverse.
The drive was uneventful, turn after turn after mile and he finally found his destination.
As he turned into the drive, a young man of 25 or so came forth from the house, small white envelope in hand,
The old man stopped the car carefully ,placed the gear change back into neutrel and got out of the car.
The younger man came to him and said "Is this it? Here is your money, it's all there, you can count it if you want to"
To which the old man slowly peered over his glasses at the boy,
he smiled, small but smiled all the same,
"ai" was all he said
The old man opened the envelope and counted the money,
indeed it was all there he nodded in approval.
The young man offered to him "Do you need a lift anyplace?"
"No" the old man said "I'll walk"
and he did.
at this last time as he had before he walked,
alone.
- sometimes even the smallest things mean the most -
he sat in, closed the door behind himself firmly and looked over his surroundings.
The midmorning sun was glinting off of the chrome dials and every now and then it would catch his eye,
After a moment he found the key and placed it firmly in the waiting hole,
Breathing deep he turned the key and the mighty engine roared to life, like some kind of wounded animal screaming out at the world.
It was a familiar sound to him and it brought him memories of the times his love would sit next to him,
he looked across to where she would have been, a small smile passed his face, he gunned the engine just a little , just like he used to when she sat with him, and would give him that knowing smile.
In this place he was king,
in his world, he had control over everything here,
the walnut and leather wrapped around him like an old blanket, he was secure and happy.
His hand found the Gear stick,
it was cold yet somehow fitted in his palm percectly,
he put the clutch down, moved the leaver into reverse and looked behind him,
The pain in his lower back served as a reminder that he was no longer the young man that had bought this car, no longer the young man that had loved in this car.
With a certain look about him he eased the clutch up and the car moved to reverse.
The drive was uneventful, turn after turn after mile and he finally found his destination.
As he turned into the drive, a young man of 25 or so came forth from the house, small white envelope in hand,
The old man stopped the car carefully ,placed the gear change back into neutrel and got out of the car.
The younger man came to him and said "Is this it? Here is your money, it's all there, you can count it if you want to"
To which the old man slowly peered over his glasses at the boy,
he smiled, small but smiled all the same,
"ai" was all he said
The old man opened the envelope and counted the money,
indeed it was all there he nodded in approval.
The young man offered to him "Do you need a lift anyplace?"
"No" the old man said "I'll walk"
and he did.
at this last time as he had before he walked,
alone.
- sometimes even the smallest things mean the most -
VIEW 22 of 22 COMMENTS
jonnytrrrash7:
your welcome....i love the simple poignancy....is this booklet gonna go public (like the crotch exloader!).......the last 5 years should make for good read, yes indeedy!! 
jonnytrrrash7:
don't know all the gory details, but i bet it will be told with elegant/sardonic wit!! 