tales from an ordinary world

2002-08-16

Maybe I don't sit out in the sun enough. It's a good day to indulge in the psychological need for sunlight, to survey the sweeping expanse of grass in front of me, and the soothing traffic sounds behind. Some fellow lunchers pass by, discussing property prices. A female magpie waits expectantly as I sit with my drink. An impatient horn disturbs the balance. A girl walks her jack russell amongst the rugby goalposts. Two girls kick a footy back and forth, perhaps symbolising the end-of-week relief you can feel among the people who come here. I'm feeling a little too self-conscious to sit on the grass, so I'll just assume temporary ownership of this park bench, under a tree whose empty branches arc out like frozen lightning. A jogger in ghostlike white t-shirt and shorts pads steadily past, overtaking each group of two or three people, all dressed in darker, more subdued colours. Just when I start to think I might be the only one here on my own, lone strollers appear from all sides, each keeping their distance from one another. But then they're gone, and it's back to the familiar 2-3-4-people groups that seem to "own" the park. I guess nobody really wants to be alone on a nice day like this - I know I don't.

(sorry, that was a bit over the top, wasn't it ?)