Wednesday, May 21, 2008
The Long Walk
The twin engine, 8passenger plane touched down at the community airport around 6pm. But at this time of the year, it was already dark, and cold. Aje did not bother to go to the luggage collection center as he was carrying by hand, and walked straight to the exit. No familiar faces greeted him there, and he hung around a while. By 7pm, he was beginning to get agitated...and hungry. He walked back into the building and tried to make several calls, but none was successful. He searched his pockets and found he had only a measly sum, probably not even enough to pay for the taxi fare to town. And with no buses in service in this small town, all Aje could do was wait. But luck did not abandon him that night.
A tall elderly man sporting a cowboy hat walked out the building and stared at Aje, who in turn returned the stare.
"You and addict, son?" asked the man.
"No, sir" replied Aje.
"That's good to know," said the man "as I sure do hate them addicts!".
Aje did not reply but looked the other way at the headlights of a car driving in.
"You need a ride to town, son?" asked the man.
"I do," replied Aje trying to conceal his delight at the invitation.
"Come on then! The temp will be dropping further. Just make sure you ain't got no stuff in them bag of yours".
"Just my clothes," Aje quickly replied in hope it would convince the man that he is not an addict.
The 30minutes ride to town however, turned out to be joyful for the 2 strangers as they got to know each other. The man Aje found out, was late into his 60's and clearly no redneck. He claimed though, to be a former Intelligence Officer of some outfit which is gaining more ill reputation than not. Aje did not want to dispute nor to believe. If he is, fine. If he's not, what harm could there be? In return, Aje was relieved to note that the term 'addict' the man used was meant to be an icebreaker and nothing more.
Soon as they reached town, the man dropped Aje at the nearest coffeehouse. There, Aje helped himself to 2 cups of steaming hot coffee, before deciding to walk the 5 miles to his destination. With inadequate clothing, the walk became cold and lonely as the dark night itself.
Perhaps, a certain man, formerly of high position, is going through the same now.
ps. Quite a shame Addicted To Love - Power - was not available.
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14 comments:
salam saya nizam,
moeha minta saya taipkan. dia tak larat. dia baru tersedar dari sakit. dia minta saya bacakan juga cerita abang. dia baru terlena dan tersenyum dengar cerita abang. terima kasih. moeha memang suka dengar cerita.
If I were to meet that certain old man formerly of high position alone I would say, You an addict old man? He would say no and I would say, you're lying, you are an addict, you're addicted to lying.
Wa'alaikumusalam nizam,
Sampaikan salam saya pada Muha. Dan terima kasih kepada nizam kerana sudi menjadi sahabat membantu adik ku itu. InsyAllah, saya akan cuba turuti permintaan.
Salam Cikgu,
lol! Even on your birthday you keep stoking the fire!
Oh, you might want to add: he's also addicted to attention and power!
dear brother shah
I was reading your entry. The title suggests something like Mandela's The Long Walk To Freedom. Fortunately it isn't. And that twin engine aircraft reminds me of the late Buddy Holly and Big Bopper. About that man, yeah what I can say, "a cowboy work is never done."
i dont get it. what has an addict got to do with icebreaker?
Salam Shah,
I am an addict to good music. Your JR - Darlin is cool, there is always that lonely road that you have to walk alone here or life after. Here you might need the dime but life after you need all the blessings from God almighty
Salam shirzad,
Hope, Mandela won't look at my entry as an insult. But the Long Walk is an everyday story of life here. Off course, some are more prominent or profound than others.
As for the plane, well, now that you mentioned it, it does remind me of not Buddy Holly, but Jim Croce.
The cowboy, you'd be surprised at the friendliness of some people to strangers. But I bet you know that too :)
Salam kerpie,
Is that really you, bro? Hmm...rather suspicious that you spelled your name wrongly. But, neber mind :)
Anyway, that icebreaker thingy...you've got to ask the cowboy. But after all these years, I don't think he's around anymore.
Wa'alaikumusalam Dato',
Alhamdulillah, great! Then I'll try to whip up more tunes for you and my friends here.
You are right most correct about needing Allah's blessing in the hereafter. Hmm...that may be an idea for an entry later. Thanks :)
looks like my name, sounds like my own writing, and smells like the greatest man alive was here. thats gotta be me!
sorry bro, typo error.
seriously, i still dont get it. meh la terang kat aku sikit.
kerpie bro,
Hehe...if only the oink oink can fly! Bro, that's a very very very big secret to be telling. Now, I'm sure you love me quite a lot and do not want me to end up in Kamunting, do you? The OSA, ISA, MSA, and even PSA would be thrown to me if I do :) Sssshhhh.....
Hello 'Aje'
Salam... Is this a story of your own experience? ;) Or just an anology of a high profile politician. Quite deep there.
Wa'alaikumusalam ydiana,
It's like both :)
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