|
|
|
IT FELT GOOD TO SEE Nick at his usual occupation when he walked into the supper club.
“Afternoon, Nick.”
“Howdy, looks like life’s treatin’ you well.”
“Better than that. It’s great.”
“Sounds to me like a man with a woman in his life.”
Feeling his chest swell, Jim answered: “I do.”
Handing him a beer, Nick said: “I thought so. That’s great, everyone needs a mate to attack life’s problems. Are you getting used to Blue Ridge yet?”
“I guess so...the pace is slow, but it’s like a good place to be, so, yeah.”
“I think so too. I’ve been here for more than fifty years. Wouldn’t want to live any other place in the world.”
“What do you like best?”
“Hard to say, the mountains, the change in the seasons, the hunting, fishing and most important the people.”
“All the people?”
“Well, not all of them. The ones I don’t care for I can count on my fingers. Most people in the mountains are like the Barkleys.”
“Sure are the nicest people I’ve ever known.”
“It’s a shame they were deprived of having grandchildren to share their lives and love of God and country.”
“Sometimes life isn’t fair” — Jim said.
“Not sometimes: Life’s never fair. You should never forget that. Don’t feel sorry for yourself or pity for others. Mr. and Mrs. Barkley are a good example. They don’t worry about life not being fair and they just make every day better for everyone they come in contact with, day by day.”
Nick replaced Jim’s beer with a fresh one.
“Thanks, have you ever heard of Hogback?”
“Hogback? — Nick said, scratching his head — yeah, that’s a ridgeline just north of here. The Toccoa River makes a hairpin turn and passes on both sides of the ridge ? a beautiful sight. Who told you about Hogback?”
“I was invited to a picnic there tomorrow.”
“Go boy! You’ll love it. Anybody I know?”
“Peggy Taylor.”
“She is a special lady. You take care of her.”
“I plan to.”
He kept his seat at the bar until the crowd started to show up. Knowing that Peggy would not be there caused him to lose interest in watching others having a good time. When Nick went to the back for supplies, he slipped out the door and began a slow walk back to his apartment.
 |  |  |
|
|
|