Just Like He Said

(Someone I know a little. We often come across each other, out and about.)

“Here’s a funny one for you about a bloke I met.

“The other day I was standing just here, on this bridge, and he – this chap – just came over. And so we chatted a little bit. I didn’t know him or anything.

“I don’t remember what I said – we were just passing the time.

“But what I do remember is him saying he finds real pleasure standing here, even though it’s a busy road, because the river’s never hurrying. That’s what he said – he found ‘real pleasure’ here. Those were his words.

“And then he smiled and said he hoped I’d have a good day, or something like that, and off he went.

“Now I’ve been here umpteen times but I’ve never thought about the river like that before. But I’ve been thinking about it since. And I can see what he means now.

“And that’s so valuable. And if he hadn’t shared that, I might never have thought it. I probably never would have seen it that way.”