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Wednesday, 7 April 2010

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A true friendship

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.

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