Today I Made Friends

[Stinky]

I wrote this after being dragged off to Brive on a hot summer afternoon before the Covid Invasion.
It is pretty much what happened.
I hope it makes you smile.
.

We have family visitors.

Daughter for a couple of weeks.

Son and girlfriend for a few days.

And they want to go shopping in Brive.

Sigh.

There is no shade and I leave my car with it’s tyres slowly pooling in the heat.

Pleading old age/aching bones/anything I can think of, I send them, with my CB, shopping.

Terraced cafe, sunglasses and a book, I settle with a small beer.

Choosing not the seat and tables, but a low wall with a view of the Square.

The waiter points politely to a vacant table, but I am content here.

A little girl, four maybe five, comes to me and touches my book.

Smiles, curls and dimples.

A parents dream.

She knows high five and knuckle touch and her grin is legion.

And gappy.

Climbs onto the wall and wants to see my book.

Half on my lap, the black and white photos frustrate her.

Not a child’s book, but a Biography of the Lancaster.

Her Dad is apologising, but I assure him we are fine, and hands shaken, he is back with his wife.

My book is now by my side and Alicia is teaching me to count.

The waiter brings me a beer and Alicia’s father has bought it.

A man, older than I, asks about my book.

He has seen the cover.

He knows the Lancaster, his father, fought as a young man and told him of the bombers.

Alicia is five, Albert is seventy.

She is teaching me to count and he wants history.

She has dimples and he has wrinkles.

And we are laughing fit to cry.

Albert’s wife has brought his drink over and one for me.

Pastis.

Alicia is counting fingers on my right hand and I am trying to talk history to Albert.

A young woman bends delicately in front of me.

She is a delight in anybodies eyes.

Can she help?

Albert speaks no English and I butcher French.

She has heard us talking and is offering bilingual skills.

Sabine and Albert are poring over my book.

His questions, her answers.

And I can now count to six.

My Pastis has magically replenished itself.

Do I know of the Maquis?

Yes of course, and the conversations speed up.

And get louder.

A woman pulls a chair, and her grandfather fought with the Maquis.

She grabs two handed my collar and kisses my forehead so passionately that the Richter People will be aware.

I was born ten years after the war, but she cares not.

The waiter is now very busy.

The conversation is loud, animated and pulling other people in.

The waiter is not coping.

My family are finished shopping and come back for me.

Alicia is half asleep on my lap.

Albert has my hand in his.

Sabine is holding my book, still translating.

The waiter has given me another Pastis.

I stand(sort of) and smile (sort of) at the hot and uncomfortable shopping crew that has come to claim me.

Kisses I give to my new friends.

And the car keys to my son.

[Char]

Isn't life wonderful.

[Chappers51]

Thank you Stinky - it brought a smile and a tear.