When the car came around the second time Magpie was standing up but I got behind the rock in time. He ducked, and the car sat and idled what seemed like forever.
"They saw me," he said.
"Let's run for it,"
"He's going to come over here."
"Let's book it, he's not going to catch us."
"You stay here, I'm going before he sees you."
"No!"
And, before I could argue, Magpie was bounding up to the car. "Good evening officer!"
***
Sometimes the sunshine and warmth here is surreal and almost too good to be real. Three thousand miles away in a convertible I sometimes feel like I'm in a completely different world.
"Where you from?"
"Boston," Nexus grins.
"I love New England! Why'd you leave?"
He points to the sky.
"I guess."
"People are nice here, friendly."
I must have frowned.
"It's not that people out there aren't friendly, it is just I love the community here."
"I think there's a scale. There places where the norm is a broad sprawling social networks of acquaintances, and then there are people that you know will have your back when things go badly."
There are other two people in the car and they both smile a smile that says they think I'm very silly. I can't see Nexus' face. All I can think is that must have simply lived lives where they have never been in a situation where they really needed somebody to bail them out.
"I was told once the difference between acquaintances and friends is a friend is somebody who you'd feel comfortable calling at 2AM when you really need help, and who wouldn't mind such a call."
I considered that for a moment, but mostly thought of how different taking a call at 2AM was from directly approaching an annoyed police officer so your friend can get away.
"I think you'd be surprised Pika, at how many people will come to help you out when you're in trouble. You need to have a little more faith."
"Where you from?"
"Boston," Nexus grins.
"I love New England! Why'd you leave?"
He points to the sky.
"I guess."
"People are nice here, friendly."
I must have frowned.
"It's not that people out there aren't friendly, it is just I love the community here."
"I think there's a scale. There places where the norm is a broad sprawling social networks of acquaintances, and then there are people that you know will have your back when things go badly."
There are other two people in the car and they both smile a smile that says they think I'm very silly. I can't see Nexus' face. All I can think is that must have simply lived lives where they have never been in a situation where they really needed somebody to bail them out.
"I was told once the difference between acquaintances and friends is a friend is somebody who you'd feel comfortable calling at 2AM when you really need help, and who wouldn't mind such a call."
I considered that for a moment, but mostly thought of how different taking a call at 2AM was from directly approaching an annoyed police officer so your friend can get away.
"I think you'd be surprised Pika, at how many people will come to help you out when you're in trouble. You need to have a little more faith."
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