What ever old man, bye old man

The girl approached the old man perched on the bench Surrounded by an invisible void. A void created by the evading steps of those who looked, saw, and turned away, squinting in disgust because of the boastful smell of shit and urine, or the sour taste that becomes of their own tongues, when witnessing the mans gaudy ugly face.

A girl meets his gaze and enters the void - points and says:
'look at that squirrel, AAaaaw its so cute!' She was accustom to the mans smell, and his face.

'Squirrels have no place on this earth' The man said avoiding the girls hovering finger...

'I thought you like squirrels'

'Hmph!...' The man shrugged.

'What do you mean hmph old man! last time you were feeding him, and with a smile on your face while you did it', The man could see she was irritated 'and you told me to be careful not to frighten him away'.

He sighed

'Well?' She waited for a response

'Squirrels don't know love', was the mans response

'Huh?'

'........' he responded with nothing this time

'I said huh!?' After she yelled her mouth hung open, making a face confused.

Looking into her eyes, with his own glazed, he explained himself;

'They look cute, yeah they do, but only to take from you the little that you have. expecting everything they'll come close, pretending to be your friends. once they've had their full, their off, they only allow enough space to take from you, but they never come close enough for you to touch them. they take though they're afraid'

Though the girls hand was empty she bent low and stretched mimicking an offering to the squirrel. the squirrel bounced towards her, with its tail curling as cute as can be. when it realized the trick it bounced closer then stood on two legs, and with smooth flicks of its tail demanded food.

The man flinched and drooped Stella, the can hit the ground and rolled in a semi circle wasting itself on the concrete. scared of being beat down by the can the squirrel retreated into the green of the grass.

'Whats the matter with you, w, why, whats scaring you?' the girl was obviously confused

' Do you not feel fear when in the presence of the absence of love'
The mans tone was different now, he invoked the presence of those who watch, he inspired a respect the girl never felt for him before.

'But its only a squirrel' The girl said with her own tone now calm. She then mustered up the courage to say
'You always change old man.. You always change what you say and do, your always contradicting yourself'.

The man eased up a little from his position and spoke with glaze now missing from his eyes.

' Why..?' he paused ' why be stubborn...? why be stubborn?' he repeated himself but this time as if speaking to himself. Then came another paused 'I might believe I'm a fish but why should i continue to behave like I'm a fish when i realize other wise' He relaxed back again, looked up, and stared beyond the clouds. After tens seconds he spoke

'You haven't known me for long, but before you knew me, i had less, i had no place, but now i have a home, a home to me alone. A space that no one enters unless i invite, a space that people respect is mine.'

The girl who was slouched low was now sitting on the dust of the concrete with her legs crossed, absorbing what he was saying but unsure what to do with it.

The man continued 'What I do, and what I say, is only a result what I believe now...and nothing more'

The girl wondered if he was finished

I was once that way, now I am this way. Pride can hinder change, and change is everything'


The girl didn't understand.
Then she did understand.
But she couldn't say 'I understand'.

Instead, she rose turned the other way, started to walk and said,' what ever old man, bye old man'...



published by me

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