The Bench Day 2

The conversation with the little kid had managed to stoke a fire and breathe some life into his decaying soul. The hope was obvious in his steps, instead of dragging himself into the park like he had been doing over the past year, today he took big strides, although as the park approached, his shoulders stooped and the dread of losing his friend became obvious on his face. But God chose not to disappoint him, he could see his little friend firmly perched on the bench. Eyes full of longing and tiny hands flying in the air were beckoning him. The old man was filled with joy, emotions rushed through his body and he found himself wiping some tears with his sleeve. It had been so long since someone cared about his existence. But like most other moments in his life, this joy was short lived, it was immediately replaced with the dread of what if the kid makes a new friend, what if a new toy grabs his attention, what if…He sat on the bench wondering how to keep this little kid interested. The kid had beautiful round face and big oval brown eyes. But when he looked up the old man could only see the bruise above his eyes. Even before he could find out the reason for it, his stomach curled up in anger. He often thought that injustice was one thing in this world which could be sensed even before it could be heard. His old frail hands gripped the bench harder, mentally he imagined himself clutching the throat of the man who could be so cruel to this child.

Old Man: Hello young man, what happened to your eye?

Kid: I fell while I was playing.

This answer sent the old man reeling back into his childhood, how often he had used the same excuse. He would spends nights thinking that his real father was in the army and one day he would return to claim him. Over and over again his mind played this movie, his brilliant escape, his father training him to be a great warrior, and the climax, becoming the supreme protector of the weak. But years passed, no help came, he could not protect himself. And he knew in his heart he could not protect this child.

Kid: Let us become good.

Old Man: How do you propose we do that?

Kid: I don’t know, you are the big one, I thought you knew.

The old man knew this was the moment where his utility to this kid would be defined. His desperately searched for an answer. The kid looked at him probingly, his little finger was about to be launched for a poke.

Old Man: I know how it can be done.

Excitement ran through the child’s face. Time for the lying to begin, time to build a castle of false hope.

Kid: Tell me how, I will do it all. I am a brave kid.

Old Man: It takes time, I will have to train you. You need to meet me here every day for the next one year.

Very easily he managed to secure a one year bond with a few simple lies. He could feel the guilt like bile in his mouth, he had fallen to a whole new level for human companionship.

Kid: Alright I will meet you here every day. You are my teacher.

The innocence in the voice made the old man shift uncomfortably in his seat. He turned away to avoid his eyes, when he found the courage to look back, the kid had disappeared. He turned his attention to the letter he was planning to write to his own kid. He wondered if he would respond, it had been 5 years since he last saw him. He wondered was he married, did he have kids. He could not think of words which would compensate for the 5 years. Like every day other day he folded up the letter, but his eyes caught something. His heart skipped a beat, the year on the letter was 2010, that did not make sense, he did start writing the letter long back, but he was sure it has not been more than a year. He remembered how he decided that the fresh air from the park would help clear his mind and he could write the letter. This date had to be wrong, it must be wrong!! It was the year 2013, he must have made a mistake while writing the letter. A tiny voice in him asked how he failed to notice the date for more than a year. He convinced himself he probably needs some new glasses. His old age was finally catching up with his eyes.