John, books and dope
John lived next door to us. He was quiet and retiring but not unfriendly. He was just exceedingly shy. You hardly saw him because he rarely opened his door. Indeed the only time I ever saw him out of his flat was when I invited him round for a coffee. I wondered how he managed to get his groceries. I certainly did not encounter him outside of the house.
He came in, took his mug of coffee, and started looking at our books. The walls were lined with them. It seemed to spook him out completely.
‘How did you find out about all these?’ he asked, astounded that anyone should have the slightest knowledge of literature.
He never came for coffee again.
John was in his thirties, a well cushioned fellow with long straggly fair hair and rheumy eyes. He’d achieved a First from Cambridge in English Literature.
John had a room with a very large square dark oak table that was pushed against the wall in front of the window. The only other furniture were two armchairs and large shelving units crammed with books. There were piles of books everywhere.
The large table was unusable. It was covered with a huge mound of roaches from joints that were piled up into a great peak resembling Mount Kilimanjaro. They reached to the edges and threatened to spill on to the floor.
John spent his days sitting in his armchair smoking dope and reading.
That was the sum total of his life.
That is my sister, apart from the “Joint”. Opher sorry if I offended you re my blog, I know you do not believe in Religion (you know my views) and God, but it was more how dare these people impose on us what we can or cannot have, I am not as clever as you when it comes to “words” – enough said.
I don’t take offense. It’s OK with me to share different views on things. I don’t like things imposed on me. I’m quite happy to have debate and argument. I rarely get personally involved though I get plenty passionate.
These Muslim fundamentalists infuriate me with their bringing in sharia law. I think they should sod off to a country where they can practice their religion how they want, dress in their sacks and leave us alone. They are medieval idiots as far as i’m concerned. They annoy me.
Sorry – that’s me on a rant again.
No you are not ranting, I take in all you say and I so agree with you, it is just that you say it so much better than me I tend to go on and on and you manage it with less words.
I think you say it just as good.
Opher, in the few short weeks I have known you the confidence you have inspired in me you have no idea, I have learnt so much from you.
Well that’s good isn’t it! I can’t think how.
Well conversing via the internet and reading your books you have brought me out even my Sons have said they have noticed a change. David would tell people I was a good cook, good Mother and looked after him well, but never gave me confidence to go places, see things. Yes, holidays I had to arrange or he would not go, when I first said I was going to take Jonathan up to London, he said “No” he was too young and I could not cope, but I took him and coped and he still talks about all the trips we have had together to London. God I had to put £5 on the car thing where the gear thing sits, don’t know what it is called or he would not take me shopping to Sainsbury’s in Colchester, that was my one day out. YOU, have given me confidence.
Well if you don’t try things you’ll never know, will you. And even a poor experience is better than no experience. One life. That’s all. Make the most of the seconds! San Francisco will be a beginning. There’s a world to see and a universe to explore!
I would not even be thinking about it every day had it not been for you.
Good. Now all you have to do is make it real.
Opher, I am off now, have to cook the Dinner – see you in the morning, “Sleep Warm”
And you Anna.