Monday 27 July 2009

There are some things that never change

A man sits at an outside table, a pint of lager keeping him company. He looks sad, deep in thought. Maybe he isn't sad, maybe he is just contemplating life, the universe, a new job, a job far away from here. Maybe he has never been good at handling change, many people aren't, but a pint and some precious solitude are doing him a world of good.

Some surfers walk past on their way back from the beach, a black Labrador trotting after them. The tide is in, a toddler paddles in the shallows with her father. A yacht sails out of the harbour, it symbolises something, something he understands, freedom perhaps, or escape. Two men sit in a dinghy fishing, all you can hear is the wind, the rattling of rigging and the cry of sea birds. He'll miss this place.

He pops into the shop to get some essentials. An elderly couple blockade the basket pile, preventing all access while they debate about who carries what. Emerging from the shop he nearly gets knocked down by some imbecilic pavement-cyclist. He gives the fool a piece of his mind. As he walks away he smiles ruefully, some things will never change.

50 comments:

JennyMac said...

See...this is why you get awards. What awards you ask? Two with your name on it. Oh, don't blush. Oh, don't say how you hate awards shows and have nothing to wear. See my post today instead.

Anonymous said...

Since you left no room for smartass comments, may I just say I'm so glad the cyclist did you no permanent damage. And I hope the part of your mind that you gave him was expendable.

diane said...

What is it with you and sea gulls?
Anyway, now I want to go to the beach more than ever, thanks to you. I've had several invites, but finding the time is something else.
I really liked this story Mo.

Everyday Goddess said...

He's leaving? Why is he leaving Mo?

Stacy Uncorked said...

That was a beautiful portrait of words. Now I want to go to the beach.

blognut said...

If he gives the cyclist a piece of his mind, is he now a half-wit?

mo.stoneskin said...

I realise now that this is not obviously autobiographical. But just so you know, it is!

Eric said...

A bit metaphorical today?

ladytruth said...

Great writing so when you read it out loud, it just flows off your tongue like sweet honey.

Yes, I read it out loud and no, it's not weird, okay; it's just that I like the sound of my own voice.

A nice slice of life. I liked it very, VERY much, Mo :)

Harmony said...

Beautiful imagery Mo. This post made me smile..thanks for that!

Bev said...

Lovely & poetic. Thank you!

Laura said...

You make me not want to be at work.

Pseudo said...

So. Who do you connect with more - the sailboat or the fisher dingy?

diane said...

Hahaha at blognut's comment.

Organic Meatbag said...

Good stuff, man... and oh yeah, elderly people are fun to sit around and fart with...

Simon Butler said...

Going down to the seaside in late July? Are you mad? I hope you put warm clothing on.

Christopher Jones said...

And that man's name...


...Was Mo "Grand Pooh-bah creative writing" Stoneskin.

Fancy Schmancy said...

Mo, just beautiful...

Cheffie-Mom said...

Great post! I felt like I was there, too!

rubbish said...

Where you moving to Mo? You off up North?

ellen abbott said...

Feeling the need for a little escape Mo?

Ananda girl said...

Wonderful!

Madame DeFarge said...

At least a seagull didn't pinch your chips. That would have really ruined your day.

Nikki - Notes of Life said...

Moving?

I was thinking this was your morning until I remembered a pint was involved! :D

cactus petunia said...

Going somewhere, Mo? Just make sure it's somewhere with internet access...otherwise we'd all have to stalk you!

Nicely written, by the way!

Amy said...

Lovely --

Captain Dumbass said...

Every time he beats on a cyclist now he'll fondly remember that scene.

rachaelgking said...

Those constant familiars are a good reminder of how small our lives are... and to make the most of them. :-)

Irish Gumbo said...

Time for a cycle-boy beatdown...

Where you headed, mate?

Diane said...

Wow, I've missed a lot! Read it all, though. Good stuff, as usual. Loved the baby puke story. Laughed... laughed a lot. With you. Not at you. Oh, OK, at you. I can't imagine you were laughing with a mouthful of baby puke, eh?

Frogs in my formula said...

Are you contemplating a move to Mulletville? We don't have quaint shops or seagulls or a harbor, but we do have...

We do have...

Never mind.

Sigh.

Lovely post. Except for the a-hole cyclist of course.

ShanaM said...

The beach is my fave!

Hit 40 said...

Having a quiet moment with a pint sounds lovely! I like to curl up with my coffee and newspaper in the morning.

the mama bird diaries said...

You tell the best stories. You really do.

the girl with the pink teacup said...

Thanks for letting us have a peep inside your heart on this one, mo. You're wonderful.

The Rambler said...

Beautifully written.

And yes. Now I want to be sitting by the beach sipping my cup of joe and staring out into the abyss...

Sigh.

tennysoneehemingway said...

Isn't it illegal to ride on the pavement? If not, it should be. Damn cyclists....

Anonymous said...

Seeing as I'm new to commenting on your posts, I'll keep it brief: Good stuff.

Cowguy said...

Pretty slick with the words there Mo...

It's a lot classier than ending it with "so he blew the bikers head off with a 12 gauge."

*loves drama*

bernthis said...

how come you can write so snarky and then so poetic? why can't I do that?

♥ Braja said...

"....smiling ruefully. Then he reached into his pocket and pulled out his Glock 9, and blew that sucker off the pavement. 'That'll teach him,' he thought. And then his smile was sardonic, not rueful."

What?

Oh ok...sorry....

Alyson said...

Ooooooh pretty!

Slyde said...

very nice, indeed.

Samsmama said...

Wonderful read, as always!

Beth said...

A pint and precious solitude do me a world of good, too.

So does knowing the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Girl Interrupted said...

Wait! Wait! Wait!

Where are you going???? :(

It won't stop you from blogging will it???

Er ... not that I'm selfish or anything.

Ahem.

Oh, and btw, that was really lovely ... very evocative and more than a little melancholy, but lovely all the same.

Twenty Four At Heart said...

I loved this. I loved it more than anything I've read for quite some time. Beautiful!

E. C. Rhodes said...

I would just like to add my name to the chorus of people wondering where you're off to Mo?

jmt said...

So you're moving to the U.S. then? We'd love to have you, with your weird words and all. You might have to leave the duck behind though.

p-huong said...

You're making me miss LA and surfing. Were the surfers cute?

As I have quite a few new readers since I became a "Jelly Biter" I've put this up here again. To understand the context you must read this post!