A true friendship
Bernie anthonisz
A strong wind was blowing and the sea was high knee-deep in the surf
Tom strained every muscle to keep the pedal boat going. But the sea tore
the wheel out of his hands overturned the craft and dragged it along the
shore grating his bare knees over sand and pebbles fighting to wrestle
the water cycle back on to its floats.
The wind dropped for a moment once again he thrust the boat back into
the waves would he make it before his strength gave out, he was soaking
wet and chills raced up and down his spine.
A
long wave topped with a foaming white crest swept towards him with a
ferocious roar in the darkness it seemed even more menacing than the
ones before pumping with all his strength to gain lift and momentum but
it didn’t work.
Tom was scared the night was dark and moonless he thought what would
happen if someone spotted him, he had anticipated the wind that he had
roped the bag containing his possessions to the seat and he had bought
two stout belts to hold him fast to the boat, but he had not expected a
high sea his anxiety gave way to a kind of rage he began to cycle across
the mediterranean heading in what he hoped was the general direction of
some place.
Only a few days earlier he had reached his fortieth birthday and
remembered how he had met Jenny one year earlier at the university, he
was there to learn English as it is nothing like an extended stay in a
country to learn its language.
It was in the lobby of the hostel that he met her for the first time,
he had written some postcards and was looking for stamps there’s a shop
at the University she told him come I’ll show you, she was charming not
much younger than himself with soft dark hair and an oval face, but he
hardly took her in he was wrapped up in walking round the city window
shopping taking photographs thumbing through his dictionary listening
with freedom.
The next day between classes she appeared at his side Hello she said
brightly Hello he said suddenly feeling intimidated she spoke English
perfectly.
He hesitantly nevertheless because her charm and vivacity excited him
he offered to help her, he worked together trying to impress her with
his seriousness. Then he went for tea and thought he liked her.
My name is Jenny she said and he said his name is Tom. A widow she
taught English in a secondary school and is mainly here to take her
daughter Lisa to her pen friends house she told him and especially to
shop from then on they could scarcely wait for their next meeting. They
were both pushing forty and were acting like a couple of kids. At
weakends they went out to visit the countryside and enjoy themselves.
Everything has to end in August Jenny left to England so intense was
his despair that he stood there frozen annihilated his head up his
throat knotted blinded by his tears Jenny was less upset used to the
freedom of the west.
The truth was Tom hadn’t realized until now what a large place Jenny
had taken in his life and she hadn’t want to push him into joining her
but had agreed that she would visit him during the coming holidays since
their parting he had phoned Jenny occasionally from the University. It
was hard to tell her how eager he was to hold her in his arms.
He after visited his another after his father’s death where they had
lived happily and he had grown up Tom often spoke to his mother about
Jenny, she knew that he wanted to marry her and she smiled the day he
was leaving his home to join her and she simply said ‘I want you to be
happy’. Before leaving he said goodbye to his mother she knew it was the
last time she nevertheless stood still her eyes were wet with tears but
she refused to cry.
Tom reached Jenny trembling with emotion glad to see her again. They
walked along the beach the Sun appeared and rose in the sky they walked
hand in hand pasing sailing boats and smiling people contented in their
lives as their wishes had come true to be united together for a life
time. |