You looking at me?

I was walking through the town centre. Just minding my own business. Every so often a pretty girl would catch my eye. On the whole though, I paid nobody any attention and was generally lost in a world of my won. Pressing matters occupied my mind. What should I have for dinner tonight? Mmmmm, I fancy takeout, but it’s midweek, can I justify that?? Chinese? Indian? Subway? I carried on walking and pondering this conundrum.

Suddenly, the sky seemed to darken. Like a sixth sense I noticed him approach. His eyes locked on me as he walked towards me. I held his gaze. This dude was huge! Definitely an MMA fighter I decided. One big, bad mofo.

Like a showdown in the wild west, the town became deserted, the birds were quiet, streets empty, people fled for the safety of shops, windows were shut and boarded….I swear tumbleweed blew past me. This town ‘aint big enough for the both of us pardner.

The distance between us closed and my heart beat faster. My breath became short and I could feel my clammy hands balling in and out of fists. My pulse became loud and muffled in my ears. Ladies and Gentlemen, in the red corner weighing 170lbs we have the challenger…….Everything in life had built me up to this one moment. I stood my ground.

The gap was minimal, we continued to eyeball each other, who would make the first move?! For every action, there is an equal reaction. I was ready. He was ready. Let’s get it on!

Our paths continued past each other. Phew – he was lucky. The sky brightened, the birds began to sing, doors opened and the streets were busy once again. So what was I going to have for dinner?????

The last days of summer

The sun was slowly setting. Jonas sat and watched the surfer in the line-up. Summer was ending, the zoo of people had gone. The colder evenings meant only the dedicated would stay out, shivering until the light had faded. This surfer stood out. His unabashed joy at surfing clear from Jonas’s perch on the cliff.

It had been a tough summer for everyone. Nothing else would ever be the same again. The loss would always be there. Jonas was savouring the last few moments before life moved on. His best friends Rob and Mikey came and stood next to him, they too were letting go of the remnants of summer.

“Will you look at that guy go?” hooted Mikey. The surfer raced down the line, drawing clear of the trailing wall of white-water he threw himself into gravity defying turn after turn, yet still managing to stay on his feet.

“I’ve not seen anybody like that out here, well except…” Rob’s voice trailed off.

“I know dude,” Mikey squeezed his shoulder. “Nobody, except for Jonas.”.

Rob quietly laughed, “Yeah, he’s even surfing in nothing but boardies, just like J. The crazy kid”.

Jonas turned to them both and smiled to himself – he wasn’t one to brag or be cocky, recognition from his friends was immense, but the taking part was what he enjoyed. His smile faded as he remembered how he would miss the taking part the most.

As they watched the surfer continue down the line, the wave endlessly lining up in a perfect wall of blue, the three of them stood and hooted the surfer as he disappeared behind the curtain of white-water. If this was to be their last memory of the summer, of this place, at least it was a good one.

Rob and Mikey stood looking out over the ocean. Jonas turned towards them and heard Mikey speak, more to himself than anyone; “I’ll always miss you bru.”.

Rob replied softly, “I’ll always miss him too Mikey, at least J is where he belongs now.”.

Jonas watched as they both got in the car and drove away. It was time to move on now.