Lunch in town

The smell of fresh earth after the rain saturated the air. It felt like a promise of spring. The frigid air filling his nose reminded him the season had not yet arrived. He walked on the path that generations of walkers had made through the ancient forest. The sun rays filtering through the canopy made him think of a symphony of musical notes written on the ground. A light breeze made him adjust his coat pulling his scarf over his mouth. His golden retriever walking beside him suddenly took off chasing a squirrel. He let the dog have fun for few minutes then with the palm of his hand hit his left leg a few times. The well-trained animal immediately came back to his side and continued walking by his side. 

The dog, the scents of the forest and its natural sounds were his only companions. He welcomed the silence; it was an old friend. Lately walking was his only form of transportation. There was a truck back at his cabin that he rarely used. As he arrived at the small hamlet, he collected his groceries and visited the post office that was attached to the store, more a routine than expecting correspondence. Then he remembered he would like to buy some wine at the LCBO across the street. After that, as it was his little treat, he’ll have lunch as he did weekly at the restaurant. He began mentally calculating if he had enough cash in his pocket and realised, he had to withdraw some more cash from the ATM in the store. He didn’t mind the additional charges. It was a small price to pay not to have to do banking with the big banks. It felt good to bank with a co-op even with the inconveniences. 

His thoughts were interrupted by a young woman calling him. “Your groceries are ready, sir,” she said. He thanked her and began packing them into his backpack. As he was packing his groceries, the young attendant said, “you know, you don’t need to send me a list every week, by now we know what you need. Just tell us what day you are coming, and we’ll have it ready for you.”  He smiled at the fresh face of the young attendant and responded, “Am I that predictable?” She smiled back with her arms and hands in a questioning gesture and shook her head confirming it. 

Since he had so few interactions in his daily routine he welcomed his weekly visits to the small community. It was as if these visits kept him attached to reality. Living alone and so far from the town often gave him the sense that everything was fine with the world. “How long have I lived in the cabin?” he asked himself. He realised it had been four years “well, four winters at least,” he thought.

He reflected how the late arrival of the spring had delayed his weekly visits. That made him think that sooner rather than later his life would be altered by the merciless pass of time and the need of a new roof. He reflected on the fact he was now an older man, asking himself “how many more years would I be able to keep doing this.” As his cousin reminded him constantly, “if something happened to you, no one would know.”

As he was crossing the street on the direction of the LCBO, he saw, in the corner of his eye, a person making gestures at him. Then he realised Sumpul, his golden retriever, was running away from him towards the person calling his attention. As he turned his face to call the animal, he recognised the familiar face making gestures to call his attention. “Another lecture of the risks of me living alone is coming,” he thought as he responded with a gesture of his own recognising his cousin Jack. 

“Hi, old man,” he heard Jack called him. “How long has it been? Never mind, I have ordered some drinks, and I hope you will join me for lunch.” 

Both men sat at the table as his cousin caressed Sumpul’s hears, something the dog semes to like. As the old friends sat down the server brought them each a glass with the distinctive amber colour of the Irish ale. “What are we celebrating?” he asked. Jack didn’t respond, and instead began to tell him about the road, and how difficult the drive had been. “All this elaborate trivial conversation to delay telling me what he is actually doing here. Knowing that I know what he is going to ended up telling me anyway. Why? I’m too old for these games,” he thought bitterly about his cousin “blah, blah, blah.” 

He focussed on enjoying his drink and looking at the menu, as if he didn’t know what the restaurant served. The waitress standing beside him said, “the same today?” He responded with a grunt that sound like a yes to her. 

Turning to Jack he said, “if you don’t start talking by the time my food arrived. I am going to ask her to pack it up to go and leave you here.”

“Sweet as usual. I always wander how it is possible you and I are related or even friends for that matter. Must be your charming personality,” Jack said with a touch of sarcasm. 

“I was hoping to get to dessert before telling you why I’m here. But since you are so eager to know. I am here to inform you that the town contacted me. They wanted me to ask you if it was ok with you to name the street of the new subdivision in your honour.”

The statement surprised him. “Are you serious?” He asked with an incredulous expression on his face. Jack with a mischievous smiled responded “of course not, you are becoming dumber as well as bitter, old man,” as only two people who have known each other all their life could address one another.

“I’m here to talk about that decrepit cabin of yours,” Jack said. “Besides, why would the town name a street after you if no one knows who you are here. By the way, the kid in the store doesn’t count nor the guy at the post office.”

As the waiter was serving their food, Jack thanked her and continued. “I am really here to tell you that my dad wanted you to know he made provisions in his will for you.” 

He opened his eyes wide and with almost no voice he asked, “Is he …?” 

“Ho! no non no, he just moved to a retirement home. He sold his house and wanted you and me to be aware that his money is divided equally between both of us, his son, and his only nephew. He is aware of the needs of your cabin and wanted me to bring you some money to make sure the cabin is winterised properly,” said Jack promptly. 

As he saw the cheque Jack had handed to him, he couldn’t believe how his life was altered by the windfall. “Who knew Uncle Jack had so much money? He had always lived so simply,” he said aloud without thinking. He thanks his cousin for the news. “The news and the funds you brought with you have altered my life, little cousin. I guess I can tell you now that as I was walking here, I was wondering how long I would be able to live in the cabin. Now I know I’ll be in the cabin for a long time. You are still not welcome though,” he said smiling like he hadn’t done in years. “We must have apple pie for dessert” Jack said. “And strong black coffee, you will need it to be able to walk to the cabin,” he concluded. “I’m driving” Jack responded. “Not today,” he said, “leave the car here you will enjoy the path...I promise.”

After the meal, the old cousins began walking and talking about their childhood as Sumpul ran after squirrels.