The man in the food court was bald and cheerful and wore a matching zip up track suit. A busy mall, a full foodcourt, and the 20 year old girl at the next table had been watching him. Actively trying to engage in the world around him, it was more like he was trying to get the world to engage with him. He shifted between speaking out to others and talking to himself. After trying to catch his eye for some time, she finally leaned around her teammate and called to him with a smile – “I like your sunglasses.”
They were orange, and though the foodcourt was already a dim place he seemed to take joy in wearing them. After a bit of small talk, she asked the one question she had been yearning to know.
“What is your name?”
“My name is Dr. Love, dear.”
“Well, it’s very nice to meet you.”
And with that, it was time for both parties to go. And so they parted with a smile, leaving me tonight to ponder his life and wonder what Mr. Dr. Love is up to, and if he found anyone to talk to today…
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A new section to this blog:
“People I Meet” will be the place I chronicle encounters of interest in my out-and-about life in 200 words or less.