07-03-2014, 01:45 PM
The man was friendly enough as he answered Connor's question. Wisconsin. He didn't know too much about the place. Mostly a place for cheese. He liked cheese. He laughed to himself. The guy- Calvin- seemed alright. Happy, even. Connor didn't blame him. Strange how jumping on a place and going around the world could somehow help you get your life back on track. He knew that his journey over the last months had been something. He still bore the bruises on his face as evidence of the direction that journey took. But in the end, the destination was one that he was glad to be at. Ayden’s face appeared in his mind. Nope, didn’t mind at all.
As the man spoke, he looked at something behind Connor. He causally turned around and noticed a woman with a little boy on her lap, maybe 2 years old. Connor looked at the boy for a moment. It was almost 20 years ago, but he remembered that age. He smiled at the memory. When he looked back, he saw something in Calvin’s face. He’d seen that look many times in the mirror and his heart went out to him. The man tried to cover it over and go on with conversation but Connor knew what that was. But he wouldn’t pry. He smiled reassuringly at the guy and said, “Miss my boy at that age.”
Just to let him know that he was a dad and had seen the pain, but not push any further. “Me? I’m from New Mexico. Northwestern corner. Been here almost a year, I think. It’s been….interesting.”
What a word. “To be honest, though, being here has been good for me. The change has been good. Found purpose I guess. Anyway.”
He stopped, unsure of what to say. It was the subway and they were making chit-chat. He decided to keep it light. “Not a bad place to live, not really. What about you?”
As the man spoke, he looked at something behind Connor. He causally turned around and noticed a woman with a little boy on her lap, maybe 2 years old. Connor looked at the boy for a moment. It was almost 20 years ago, but he remembered that age. He smiled at the memory. When he looked back, he saw something in Calvin’s face. He’d seen that look many times in the mirror and his heart went out to him. The man tried to cover it over and go on with conversation but Connor knew what that was. But he wouldn’t pry. He smiled reassuringly at the guy and said, “Miss my boy at that age.”
Just to let him know that he was a dad and had seen the pain, but not push any further. “Me? I’m from New Mexico. Northwestern corner. Been here almost a year, I think. It’s been….interesting.”
What a word. “To be honest, though, being here has been good for me. The change has been good. Found purpose I guess. Anyway.”
He stopped, unsure of what to say. It was the subway and they were making chit-chat. He decided to keep it light. “Not a bad place to live, not really. What about you?”