Night time meetings
We got to Durham at about 7:30 last night. and it was my Grandfather’s dinner time. He was taking us to the RSL for an introduction to the township that he had been a part of for so long. I think he was eager to show us off to his friends down at the club.
He’s sweeter than I imagined. When he greeted us it was if we had always known each other. Like he’d been there for every award ceremony, birthday, grazed knee. There was a feeling of connection. Of familiarity.
His house was nothing like I imagined. It was warm and inviting, with fresh flowers that he’d picked himself that morning from his small garden bed, sitting in a glass vase on the kitchen table. He had our lunch on the table, small sandwiches with the crusts cut off (how I liked them when I was 6) waiting for us.
John walked us into the living area and we all took a seat on his various antique furniture. He obviously hadn’t gone shopping for new couches in over 40 years. That didn’t make it feel old and worn, but loved: full of life.
There was enough time for pleasant introductions, but then it was time to freshen up and head out for dinner. John had waited a lot longer than usual for his meal, and warned us that he’d get a bit ‘grumpy’ if he didn’t eat by 8. We were racing against the clock. haha
Justin and John went off to get ready while I quietly walked around, looking at his wartime spitfire aeroplane models and his massive archive of family history. He had every significant photo of mine and my sisters life since we were babies, placed triumphantly on his mantle piece, even though he hadn’t been there to experience any of it. Mum must have sent him all these…
He showed me his prized ‘Wings’, given to him during the 2nd World War when he fought in the airforce during the War in the Pacific. He had sustained an injury to his leg when enemy artillery shot through the cabin of his spitfire and lodged into his leg. It gave him a limp, but when I asked him if it ever bothered him…he simply replied…
“It adds character”. This man was so different to what I’d imagined him to be. I really wish I was staying here for longer.
Maybe I’ll make road trips to Durham a more regular occurrence. For more reason that one...
On that note. I saw her again.
Behind the bar, with a tea towel folded over her shoulder. We met eyes from across the room and I knew she had been waiting for me. Or at least I hoped she had been.
I was surrounded by a group of loud talking war veterans, all asking a million questions and trying to lead me this way and that to show me their photos that adorned the wall. They were all handsome buggers. Hopefully I get that manly soon.
Bella laughed to herself as she watched me getting the ‘Grand Tour’ of the club, obviously she’d been given it a number of times before.
All night I was conscious of her watching me, and I couldn’t help but look back up and meet her eyes. She was wearing basic blacks but seemed to shine brighter than anyone else in the room (not hard when everyone else is 85+). But even if a bunch of playboy models had walked in at that point, I don’t think I would have noticed them.
I couldn’t enjoy my meal because my stomach was flipping. I had to go and talk to her…so I excused myself from my grandfather’s party and made my way quickly across of floor. She was drying a beer mug, with a smirk on her face.
B: I see you boys didn’t drive into a ditch or anything? Glad you got back safely without our help again. Don’t think I could take another knock to the hand with a hammer again.
J: Ahhh….(nervously I laughed)..I’m so sorry about that. How is it feeling?
B: Oh it’s fine. Just a bit of a dent in my bone structure though. Oh well, it adds character.
I wonder why everyone keeps saying that?
We went on talking for a quite a while. I sat by the bar like one of her regulars while we discussed Durham, school, our life ambitions. You know…normal introductory topics. But I could feel a connection. Like I felt with my grandfather. But obviously on a different level. She was so different.
I took this photo while at the bar with Bella accidently when pulling stuff out of my bag. I kept it cause I think it’s an apt illustration of what I was seeing last night. Nothing. Only a swirl of flashing poker lights, I felt dizzy so I couldn’t really focus on anything.
Apart from her.
