SUMMER READING: FREE RIDERS
When a pair of red high heels, holding on, letting go and a mobility scooter come together
One day I was lying on a bench. You may think: why was she not sitting like any other person would do? Well.. for that you can read all about it in one of my previous post. So I had walked a bit too far and was resting before walking home again. While lying there, two extravagance people and some ‘side actors’ passed me. A short story was born.
Free riders
Making a rhythmic sound with her red high heels on the asphalt Milly walked quickly. On this summer evening she found herself on a quiet countryside road heading home. With every step her grey blonde curls wiggled on her shoulders. Milly was in a hurry. Actually the best way would be to just get on her bike. Something prevented her from doing so. Impatiently she stopped for a moment and looked back. It had been such a wonderful evening. A 60s themed party in the garden of old friends and now it had to end this way. It made her very angry.
The day had started off so well. Specially for the party she had chosen to wear a colourful petticoat, a white blouse and on top her favourite bright red trench coat. Red lipstick was the finishing touch of her outfit.
Arthur, her partner for nearly 30 years, was always the last one to get ready and leave. In contrast with her as she liked to get somewhere a bit earlyer and look how people arrive. The expectant faces and cheerful greetings had always fascinated her. This meant of course she always had to push Arthur to leave on time!
Milly and Arthur were 15 years apart in age. Until last year it had never been an issue. Arthur was struggling with the decay of his body. Now that their children started to lead their own lives, she felt an inner drive to make her own plans come true. Taking care of Arthur didn't fit into those plans. She was ashamed of that selfish thought. Whereas Arthur felt more and more at ease just staying at home.
They did not dare to say this to each other
Agitated Milly stopped again to look back. A few hundred metres away from her was Arthur. From a distance he looked handsome and Milly felt her heart beat a little faster.
“After all these years, he can still do that!” she sighed.
Arthur was also dressed up for the occasion wearing beige trousers with a crisp white shirt. A sporty blue jacket and a classic English cap on his head completed the look. It was very clear. These two people belonged together. Milly watched as Arthur approached her. No, not on a bike like Milly. In a very slow pace Arthur was riding the Rolls-Royce of mobility scooters: Four wheels, metallic silver finished with olive green coloured hardwood.
Close enough now to hear each other, Arthur yelled:
“The battery is low!”
That remark bubbled up her anger again:
“I told you last night to charge! But no, you always seem to know better!”
Arthur did not respond. Instead he decided it would be better to save on the little battery that was left. While remaining seated he started to push the mobility scooter forward with his left leg. On doing this Milly screamed out:
“You should not do that. That won't help!”
Ignored Milly’s remark using his left leg, Arthur continued pacing forward stiffly . Alarm beeping sounds started to come from the mobility scooter. All focused to get a bit forward Arthur ignored those as well.
Two cyclists approached from behind Arthur. On seeing him struggle, they stopped next to him.
“Can we help?” one of them asked in a caring tone.
Before Arthur could answer Milly shouted from afar:
“No! It is not necessary!”
The two cyclists looked at each other in surprise, got up their bikes and cycled on. They were on their own again. Tirelessly Arthur still pushed the mobility scooter forward with his leg.
“Why did you tell them to leave?! They could have helped us!” He shouted out.
Molly responded:
"Stop that leg!"
Arthur did not stop
"Stop now!"
Breathing heavily now, Arthur stopped and took out a handkerchief to wipe off the sweat from his forehead. Silently they looked at each other. Arthur was about to say something but again a few cyclists approached. With her arms she gestured to continue cycling. It was obvious she did not want any help.
“Why are you so stubborn in asking for help?! You have always been that independent woman and that is what I always loved about you. But now we have come to an age where it is okay for us to get some help from outsiders.”
“Us?! You mean for yourself?! I am not that old yet like you!”
The words came out quicker than Milly anticipated and seeing Arthur’s facial reaction she regretted it immediately. Arthur cleared his throat:
“When we first met my friends warned me the age difference between you and me would get in our way. Well, this is the day.”
“Arthur, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to say this. It is just that you can be so stubborn at times and don’t listen to my advice to charge the battery. “
“ Do you really think this is about the stupid mobility scooter?! Don’t you think I have not noticed you. You were embarrassed when I decided not to buy an e-bike. Now you always bike ahead as if we are not a couple. I have known you long enough to see you are not happy with me anymore. Is this the moment you are going to leave me?”
Tears flowed down Milly’s face. Arthur was right. It was time to make up their minds:
“If I choose to go my own way, is the love between us strong enough to endure the differences in things we still want in life? “
Arthur stood up and took her hands lovingly.
“Honestly I don’t know. I will not stop you. You may even end up loving someone else. So, all I know is what I hold in my hands right here and now. You have touched my soul and are routed in my vains. That will never go away till I die. As for you, I cannot ask you to love me the same way. ”
Milly squeezed his hand gently. No more words were needed.
The sun had almost set when a tractor pulled up. The driver got out. Without exchanging any words he attached a rope to the mobility scooter. The other side of the rope he attached to the tractor. The two men briefly looked at each other and nodded to each other as to approve what was about to happen. The driver got back on the tractor. Arthur took his seat again as well. Slowly the colourful procession of tractor, mobility scooter and finally Milly on her bike moved onwards.
Homebound.
This summer I am posting some of my short stories. To find out why I started writing short stories read back my earlier post