8

Two men are walking down the road, one a sixties popstar, the other a long-haired and slightly worried spiritual type in sandals.

“I don’t know about this,” says the long hair, tugging on his beard. His sandals flap on the pavement as he endeavours to miss the cracks.

“Step on a crack and you’ll marry a Jack, eh?” said the popstar, smiling. “I wouldn’t want to marry a Jack, either – but you worry too much; you gotta have trust, you know? Like that Wham song.” And then he sings a bit, and does a sort of George Michael twirl, and tugs on his collar. A child stares and he gives them a wink.

“They love a bit of it,” he says.

“She’s too young for you,” says Thomas, “you know that – people want different things at that age; you can’t really think it’s gonna work out?”

“Listen” – and he croons – “<i>I’m in love with a beautiful woman/and it’s no surprise/that she bakes me pies</I>. What could be wrong with that? I’ve met someone I think is awesome; who I think is beautiful; lovely; creative; talented; smart; nice; funny; sexy; and who wants me. Sure, she’s got flaws, and things that I don’t necessarily dig <i>all the time</i> – but then, who doesn’t? I sure as hell do. And, anyway, endlessly looking for this mystical ‘perfect person’ isn’t the way – because what would that teach you about love? Easy to love someone who does everything you desire – but harder to love those that have been put in front of you to love, with their differences, and quirks, beliefs and opinions and attitudes and actions. Isn’t that where you’ve always fallen down, always thinking that there’s someone better, instead of making the best of what you’ve got? I mean – where’s that gotten you?”

Thomas looks down at his shoes, thoughtful. He sighs and shakes his head and looks for a moment like he’s going to cry.

“They were just never <i>right</i> for me,” he says, “always something wrong, always ended up hassling me or wanting too much or something.”

“Maybe it was you,” says Adam, “maybe you should have just given them more. I read a study that said the best way to deal with insecure people is not to ignore their needs and hope they ‘get over it’, but to give them what they want, so that they feel safe and secure; then they sort of learn to stand on their own two feet, after, not before. From what I know of you, you never did that.”

“I don’t dig that; I want someone who’s whole already.”

“Are you whole?”

“I…I aim to be in a position where I am in need of no one; where I miss no one; where I am complete unto myself.”

“It sounds like you’re reading out of a book. Do you really believe that crap?”

“Crap? Ha! You just say that because you’re a needy person yourself. Maybe you should try it. It’s not so bad being alone, you know – <i>alone</i> – <i>all one</i>.”

“Ah, Buddha,” Adam says, and smiles a little smile, “you’re so wise and mighty – but can your granddad do this?” And off he skips down the street defying his years, the energy and enthusiasm of a much younger man in his heart and muscles, a song on his lips, the words all wrong but who cares anyway. He’s in love with a beautiful woman – and it’s no surprise, that she turns his eye…

“Adam!” shouts Thomas, but it’s too late. Poor, doubting Thomas has been left behind, and Faith has come triumphant at last.

“I don’t know why I carried him so long,” Adam muses, as he enters the meadow and beholds his love, in all her splendour.