Old friends— a short story about friendship

The sun looks beautiful today, doesn’t it? Said Parker

Yes, yes it does. The light makes it look like everything is blanketed by autumn leaves. Arthur replied,

There is a charming simplicity in just witnessing the grace of nature. I often get lost in it; put into a trance by it. She knows how to calm me down. Arthur continued

Parker sat on the ground with his friend overlooking a cliff. Contemplating what to say next. Knowing what his friend was going to do, but not knowing how to stop him, or if he even should stop him.

We’re already old men Arthur! I don’t quite understand why you’re going to jump off this damn cliff. Just wait a few years and you’ll go out clutching your chest as most of us men do.

Arthur chuckled, and said to his friend, Brother both of us are old dinosaurs living in a time that’s so alien. Either this world is not for me, or I am not for this world.

I don’t exactly think throwin’ yourself off a cliff is the right way to handle not recognizing what’s around ya… that is a coward’s way of life ya idiot; you think I’m dancing around with the young ones?

No!

Not at all you geriatric fool! It is the nature of livin’. It’s not our time anymore. It’s theirs. That don’t mean we off ourselves. It’s just the way things are. How God intended ‘em to be… we just have to be patient and wait for our natural time to go.

Arthur scanned the vast landscape, a smile fixated on his wrinkled face. He waited a few seconds and replied,

Maybe this is my time to go old friend. This may just be my natural time.

Parker interrupted,

are you hearin’ yo-

I’m not done speaking my brother. Arthur said in a commanding tone.

Parker nodded and reverted to listening.

Arthur continued,

I understand this desire of mine is macabre. Unsavory even, however, the reason I think the way I do is because I have already done all that I have wanted to. Accomplished it all in my youth. I have nothing more to take nor do I have more to give. I would like to journey to the next life… see what lies for me there.

I do not want to do more.

I am simply tired

My bones are weary

My flesh sags

I could once best the strongest of bulls in combat if I needed to. I do not even have the strength to lift my own glass to quench my thirst at times.

I will do what I desire because I know what I am.

A relic of the past.

I am unwanted, unneeded.

Why delay the inevitable. I have the strength to end it now rather than wait for my body to waste away whilst sitting in my own feces waiting to be changed.

It’s my turn to speak now ya Edgar Allen Poe knock off. Parker interjected.

You’re a foolish old geezer to think I haven’t had the same thoughts.

We’re at that age!

It’s natural to feel this.

I know what you’re like Arthur. I know that you think deeper than you should,

Feel even more deeply.

But I’m tellin’ ya this would be a mistake. As soon as ya walk off that damned cliff the first thought in your mind is going to be one of regret.

You gotta get your goddamned mind out of your ass.

We all think

We all feel

But we all move forward. We don’t have to act on every single impulse that enters our mind.

You remember that time when we were kids right?

What time? Arthur asks

Parker lightly slaps Arthur on the head with the back of his hand and replies,

The time when you tried killin’ yourself over some stupidity. It was the same as this.

I had to bring you back from a ledge back then as well.

Do you remember what you did after I brought you back?

I thanked you and told you how grateful I was to God for giving me a brother like you. Arthur replied.

Parker said in a loud irritated voice,

We both know the same is gonna happen here. We’re gonna walk back from this ledge, and you’re going to end up thanking me.

I’m an old man this time, I’m gonna spend the last of our year’s tellin’ ya I told ya so.

Arthur contemplated over what his friend said.

Parker this is different. Back then I was a lost young man. I had no hope.

Right now, I have a completely different mindset.

I am not hopeless

I am happy

I am content with myself

I am just tired… I do not see what else there is to do other than wait for my inevitable death.

I only want what will eventually happen to take place sooner; for it to be in my control.

I do not wish to ceaselessly argue with you Parker. I never enjoyed arguing with you or anybody. You will not be able to walk me back from the ledge this time.

You must accept that.

Parker had a renewed determination to save his best friend. He knew the stubborn old fool wouldn’t back down easily.

Art, you used to be a champion fighter. Better than anyone I’d ever seen. You were the fastest, strongest, smartest.

No one could compete with you at your peak.

I’m not gonna ask you to get back in the ring at 75 just so you get some renewed sense of purpose.

You’ll have your face pulverized by the other guy just blowing on ya.

But you still have your mind. You have that experience, you have that wisdom, you have all of what you did in your mind.

Go to the young ones. Teach them. Guide them. Help them not make the mistakes we made.

Be an inspiration to those little brats.

You have so much to give even at this goddamned age. You just don’t want to see it because you’re too busy wantin’ to be a sad old man.

Parker got up laboriously from the ground. Looked at Arthur sitting on the grass while his friend was staring into the deep chasm just a few feet ahead. Parker wasn’t sure what Arthur would do, but hoped his friend would make the correct decision.

Parker got in his car and left to go back home.

Arthur still had the same smile fixated on his face. He went deeper into his consciousness to decide what to do.

The next day Parker went to the same park he always went to either sit on a bench or play a few games of chess with Arthur. He sat on the table with the chess board.

The old man was anxious. His shoes tapping the ground like a jackhammer. His brow sweating. He did not know what Arthur had done. He hoped for the best but had a bad feeling the old fool had launched himself off the cliff.

Parker waited for twenty minutes for anything to break the mountainous tension in him. He stared blankly forward. Tears had welled up in his eyes.

Suddenly he felt a familiar hand grip his shoulder from behind.

The fear and anxiety had washed away. A smile broke onto his face.