Seasons of Longing

David decided that today he would speak to her. They had passed each other in the park many times of course. Just a nodding acquaintance, nothing more than recognition in two pairs of eyes, quickly cast down, too shy to speak.

“This is ridiculous” David spoke aloud, something he was prone to do these days, a sure sign of loneliness, “here it is, nearly the 21st century and I am too shy to make a move”.

Sadly, David like thousands of others these days, had plenty of time on his hands and spent hours walking in the local park. It cost no money to sit on a park bench and people watch and it certainly helped fill the lonely days even if it was lonely and a bit depressing.

He saw her in the distance, recognising her bouncy walk and swinging red coat. She was a really attractive woman seemingly bursting with energy.   Taking his courage in both hands David looked straight at her.

“Hello, nice that it’s dry today after all the rain we have had”.

He spoke more loudly than he had meant and she looked a little startled but she did smile shyly at him before continuing on her way. David felt a real pang of disappointment as he turned and watched her bright coat disappear around the next corner. Not a lot of progress but maybe tomorrow, he would have the courage to start up a conversation. He had been admiring her small neat little figure for weeks now and he cursed himself for being so painfully shy. Women had never interested him much before but this one certainly did. He was determined to get to know her somehow. He had never seen her with anyone else on her walks, so hopefully she was like him, completely unattached.

The next day, David again said hello but although she smiled as she passed she still didn’t speak.   This became the pattern for weeks, all through the orange and gold fire of the Autumn. David would walk through the park avoiding the skateboarders and cyclists just keeping an eye out for her. “Hello” he would say, she would smile and that would be that until the next day.

Gradually Autumn turned into icy winter and as the bitter winds raged and the snow clouds covered the park, David went out less and less. The odd days when a watery sun tried to struggle through, he would hang around just hoping for a glimpse but she seemed also to come out rarely. It was a long Winter.

Gradually Spring arrived and walks in the park became a pleasure. The bulbs burst into amazing colours and the weather changed to mild and watery. David began to look out for her bouncy walk once more. They passed each other regularly and exchanged smiles and occasional mentions of the weather. David felt it was like greeting an old friend and seeing her became his greatest pleasure. He felt unreasonably miserable if it rained hard for a few days and he could not go out. She was now his reason for visiting the park. The hope that he might see her made his pulse race and his heart leap in his chest.

Spring passed into early Summer and as the days became warmer, David would see her walk through the park without her bright coat. Her slim body looking cool and attractive in cotton dresses.   One sweet scented afternoon, they met by a park bench. It just seemed perfectly natural to sit down together.

“Well “ David began, a little nervously “It does seem as if we should introduce ourselves. I am David Vernon”

She giggled a little self-consciously, David thought it was a beautiful tinkling sound, “I am Eva Baker”

They shook hands there on the park bench, both very aware of the closeness of their bodies.

David cleared his throat.   “I often see you in the park, do you live near here?”

Eva pointed. “Yes I live just over there, see through those trees that big block of flats”

David laughed. “Well I’m blowed, would you believe it, I live there too!”

After that it was easy. They discovered so much they had in common.   David was two years older than Eva and had spent five years in the Merchant Navy.   He had visited many exotic places so was able to regale her with stories of his past exploits which had her in fits of laughter.

The Summer continued to be the hottest since the drought of ’76 everyone said.   Meeting each day became an important part of their lives, something to look forward to, a reason to get up in the morning. They both lived alone and had no family living nearby so were able to enjoy each other’s company. It was not a romance, they would just meet and talk about their day, just simple chat.

“You do make me laugh” Eva told David one balmy Summer evening.

David looked unusually serious. “You know what Eva, we enjoy each other’s company so much and we are both lonely, what do you think about us getting married?”

David saw Eva’s face fall and cursed his clumsiness. He plunged on. “I think I fell in love with you the very first time I saw you in the park in your red coat”.

With absolute relief, David saw a look of happiness spread over Eva’s face and he knew her answer would be yes. He took her in his arms and they shared a first gentle, loving kiss, much to the amusement of a couple of kids doing stunts on their skateboards. David walked Eva home, feeling happier than he had ever felt in his life. He understood now, the saying “walking on air”. His step was springy and his heart felt light.

Back in his flat, The first thing he did, was telephone his family with his good news. To his amazement, there were no congratulations.

“Where did you meet her? In the park, I see”, sniffed his sister in a very disapproving tone. His brother was no better. “You must be mad, why saddle yourself with a wife, you have a decent flat, only yourself to worry about, why take on any more responsibility”.

David was really upset. His bubble of happiness was perilously near bursting. He had arranged to see Eva at seven pm but could not wait. At six he rang her doorbell. She answered the door and David could see at once that she had been crying. He held out his arms to her and she snuffled her troubles into his shoulder.

“Everyone thinks I am crazy to marry you. My family don’t think I have known you long enough and the fact that we met in the park seems to upset them, they just don’t approve, it is a good job I don’t have money or they would think you are only after that”.

It was heartbreaking. Here they were, full of love for each other and nobody seemed to understand. David made a decision. “We will elope”, he announced, in a voice which brooked absolutely no argument.

Elope they certainly did, the following Wednesday.   Well, it was more a quick visit to the local Register Office, with two passing strangers as their witnesses.

Back at David’s flat, Eva removed her new powder blue hat. David could see that she looked a little down-hearted. He realised that it had not been the most romantic wedding. Taking her face in his hands, he tipped her chin so that he could kiss her lips. In his best Humphrey Bogart voice he said, “tell you what, sweetheart, we will have a party and invite everybody and show them how happy we are”.

Eva cheered up visibly. “Where, here at the flat?”

David thought. “No, I think the local pub would be better, they should be able to organise us some sort of a wedding breakfast”.

Eva looked uncertain. “Can we afford it?”

“Of course we can. David reassured her. “It’s not every day that you get married, is it?”   He looked lovingly at his new bride. “I will phone the White Hart and see what food they can produce at such short notice” He grinned at Eva. “Do you think they do cheap rates for senior citizens?”.

The newly- weds fell into each other’s arms, laughing happily

Jane Manning

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