This is a short story i wrote for school last year, under the “creative storytelling” module. I’m not good at spacing and paragraphs so it might be difficult to read. © Me

 

Today was different. Waking up this morning he didn’t know this. Today seemed like any other day.

But everything can be deceiving, your life’s greatest moment can quickly turn into the starting point of your life’s worst.

His story wasn’t quite that dramatic though. He was a very simple man, with few goals and was quite content with the humble life he’d made. Life’s simple pleasures were enough to keep him going. The sweet taste of a juicy orange, the pepper-like smell of an old book, even the slightly disturbing fact that a pigeon has no problem eating a piece of discarded chicken.

After moving to the city he had abandoned most of his old friends. Friends from school, his good neighbours. These were real friends, he had know them a while. When he started his new job in the city he was forced to consort with new people. These people were very different from him, but alliances still had to made. Simply because he was forced to be with them due to his job. If it hadn’t been for the job, he would have probably not befriended them.

Our hero considered himself to be timid, never spoke much. But these city folks, they were used to the hustle of this huge clock they called home. He felt odd, not being able to conform to the mentality of his new peers. He’d often imagine them talking about him, whenever he heard someone’s subtle snicker he’d lower his head like a frightened turtle, trying to avoid people noticing him although if there was any point it would already be too late.

Of course it would be somewhat flattering that they acknowledged his existence, he liked the thought that other people talked about him. Sometimes it didn’t even matter what they talked about. Just a little reminder that he does infact exist in their eyes, and perhaps even matters to a certain degree.

Usually though, most of his workmates would ignore him. Their initial atempts at getting to know him had failed, and thus they never felt like it was ever any use to persue them. He prefered they’d ignore him, atleast he’d be left alone and nothing unexpected would happen. He couldn’t understand these city people, and in a way he didnt want to.

 

 

One day though, this very day. The day he thought would be like any other, something unexpected did in fact happen.

Just as he returned home, before he could even begin to rest he heard his phone ring. No one ever really called him, only his parents and occasional solicitors. He couldnt recognize the number showing up on the screen of his mobile phone, and thought twice before answering. At this time it could be anyone calling.

He answered the phone, but his own words were stolen from the caller: “who am i speaking to?”. He was used to that being his question to ask, shouldn’t the caller know who he’s calling? It took him a few seconds to gather his senses before he replied, revealing his full name.

He thought the caller had called the wrong number, and was already set to hang up, wondering what to do after hanging up. To his surprise it was not the wrong number, the man on the other end of the line was his old friend. A friend from school whom he thought he’d never see again, he couldn’t quite remember why they never stayed in touch, but he was flattered that this person wanted to catch up while passing through.

His old friend being more spontaneous asked where they could meet. Our hero quickly replied and suggested a place down the street, his hasty reply wasn’t brought forth from excitement but rather nervousness. Honestly he would have still preferred to stay at home and the same thing he does every night. His mind had already been set at it. But he couldn’t back out from the deal now, his friend was already on his way. In reality he really was happy to see him again. A nice change from those city people he doesnt understand.

He put his coat back on and went out the front door, leaving his plans behind.

 

He arrived at the café and looked around, trying to spot a familiar face. He couldnt see him, he wasnt sure if he simply had not yet arrived or if he was unable to spot him.

He tried not to look too hard, and rather let his old friend look for him, and not the other way around.He felt slightly embarrased, not being able to recognize him. It hadn’t been that long since they had last seen eachother, only a few years.

He looked up again and saw someone waving at him. Before he could recognize him he was already standing infront of him, reaching out to shake his hand. His exuberant behaviour surprised him, which made his own cowardly demeanor seem even more prominent. His old friend suggested a seat outside the café, where he said they could see more people pass them by. “How have you been?” his old friend asked as they sat down. Our hero took a while to answer, as if he needed time to remember the occurances of his eventless life. “I’ve been okay, been working mostly.” Not needing to wait his friend replied, telling stories about what he has done since they parted, and how everybody was back at home. Our hero was pleased to hear that everyone was fine. Still, he couldn’t help but wonder if everyone else had changed as much as his friend.

 

 

Even though he had stayed in the quiet suburbs longer than him, he seemed more comfortable with all the people roaming around in the city, if anything he seemed to enjoy it. As the conversation went on the hours grew later it came to his attention that his old friend was more like his colleagues at work. The people he would have never befriended if they were not his workmates, then what about his old friend?

What did this alliance spawn from? Just from the fact that they grew up together, that they used to be friends. He felt like he could have just as well had lunch with the people from work, who he despised so much, the people who spoke behind his back, snickered at his oddness. Why had his friend changed so much, where did things go wrong for him. He comforted himself in the belief that such change must be fairly limited, most people grow up staying the same. Much like he did himself. People called him odd, but he was not the odd one. Everyone else was. That’s what he believed anyway, for his old friend, the thoughts were the exact opposite.