A Surprise in Waiting

When I set out that morning the clouds loomed ahead, threatening rain, but I decided to walk anyway. I hadn't too far to go and I remembered to put a folding umbrella in my handbag, as well as donning my red hooded raincoat, just in case. I always enjoyed the route to the doctor's surgery. It was quiet and fairly peaceful with only the occasional passerby coming in my direction.  I had chosen the right time of day, had I been earlier hordes of schoolchildren would have been making their way to the bus stop further up the road. I always tried to avoid this, not liking the sound of their too loud chattering and shrieks of laughter. I know that as an older person I am invisible to them, insignificant in their fast paced rushing and busy world. I suppose when I was young I must have felt that way about the older generation too. How the passage of time changes our perspective on everything.

The small tree lined park I passed through was my favourite place on the walk. Today the wind was swishing through the leaves, bringing them to the ground, making a carpet of gold underneath my feet. The melancholy feel of mid autumn was in the air. That made me feel melancholy too, and wistful, thinking of summer days that had gone by so swiftly. Carefree days with the early morning light and long evenings when the sun still shone brightly for several hours, beckoning me to go outside to take a stroll along the beach front.

 Just as I left the park a few drops of rain pattered on the ground in front of me. Then the dark clouds above broke open and a lightning bolt, followed by a deafening clap of thunder, rent the air. A man ahead of me walking his dog started running as they were both beginning to get soaked. The dog began barking loudly, obviously startled by the sudden change in the weather and its owner's unpredictable behaviour.  I managed to get my umbrella up to protect myself from the onslaught of water coming at me from all directions. I broke into as fast a trot as I could manage. While I was still focusing on trying to arrive without the appearance of a drowned rat, I suddenly found myself at my destination.

The automatic doors of the doctor's surgery opened wide as I approached.  I went inside shaking the drops of water from my umbrella.  I noticed again the strange statue that dominated the vestibule.  I knew it had some spiritual significance but I could never settle in my mind exactly what that was. As I approached the desk I was pleased to see there was no-one ahead of me. I still had to wait though because all the medical staff were on the phone. There was a large illuminated fish tank just behind where I was standing, and I kept my attention focussed on several big darting fish, until at last I heard the welcome words "can I help you?".  "Oh yes" I murmured," I am here for my yearly flu jab". A quick glance at the computer screen by a somewhat disinterested receptionist was followed by an invitation to "take a seat, over that side please" . 

I made my way to a row of seats. There a few people waiting, mainly single people like myself, but one or two couples sat close together immersed in conversation.  I chose a seat opposite a woman in a dark flowered dress and white trainers, who I guessed would be about my own age. The middle aged man sitting on her left glanced at me briefly, but obviously did not want to make eye contact. I had long given up expecting men in public places to pay much attention to me.  I was not even of a certain age, having passed the demarcation mark at least 20 years ago. I looked at the lady opposite me and she smiled warmly. "Good morning" I ventured. I noticed she was wearing a pale blue scarf which complemented the colour of her eyes We got into conversation, and she told me she was waiting to have her flu jab too. We chatted for a while about this and that and then she suddenly looked at me and said "Do you know, there is something rather familiar about you." "Oh really" I replied". I didn't remember ever having seen her before. I asked her if she was local to our area. She confirmed she'd been living in the next town for several years. And then she asked my name.

For some reason I told her my maiden name and she looked quite amazed. She told me that we had been in the same class at secondary school. I tried hard to remember her, but even the name she gave me didn't ring a bell. But then as we spoke about our memories of other classmates and teachers, a sudden faint recollection came to me. All at once I felt close to her, a stranger to me in this impartial setting, apart from a bond that came out of nowhere spanning almost 70 years. How extraordinary this was, and how unexpected.

And then the nurse called me. Still bemused I went through the motions of having the flu jab with the sting of the needle in my arm, but I hardly felt a thing. I went back decades in my mind, remembering how I had felt as a child in that school. I could see many of the teachers' faces and hear their footsteps echoing down the corridors. So many memories came flooding back. Singing uplifting songs in the music lessons, learning elementary French and enjoying it too. On one occasion being very proud of a painting I produced in my art lesson. The camaraderie of mixing with the other girls and swapping stories in the playground. Days of innocence and youth before life kicked in and I became a grown up person.

When I came out my new friend was nowhere to be seen. I haven't come across her since that day. Perhaps I will meet her again, who knows?  As I made my way back home the sun came out and shone once more on the wet glistening pavement. I walked along briskly in the autumn sunshine, happy in the knowledge that I had met someone else who had also shared those early life experiences with me.  I learnt that day that, as the saying goes "No Man is an Island" - none of us lives in isolation. We are all links in a chain, and sometimes, even if only for a brief moment, we can reconnect.