Page 129 - Musings 2021
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Arthur replied, “No.”
Tommy told Arthur, “I bought a new house in London.” He could see the fading expression
on Arthur’s face.
Tommy said, “Going to miss this place.”
Arthur replied, “There is nothing to complain about, no one is making you leave from here.”
Tommy said, “I always wonder why birds choose to stay in the same place when they can fly
anywhere on the earth, then I ask myself the same question.”
Hearing this Arthur asked, “Why do you ever want to leave this, this is home, there is
nowhere better than this.”
Cops’ siren blows past the street. Pointing outside Tommy told Arthur, “This thing, you are
listening right now, chaos, and all.”
Arthur exclaimed, “This is what makes it home.”
Tommy asked, “Won’t you ever leave this place”, to which Arthur replied, “What for? I have
a home here.”
Tommy told Arthur, “Things are changing and there are a lot of opportunities outside.”
Arthur replied, “This is more reason to stay. We have been through the times of suffering and
there is the opportunity to see the place grow and turn into something beautiful. I can then
earn good for my music here only, buy a good house having all the amenities.”
Tommy said, “But you can get more for your money outside.”
Arthur replied, “So what? We all grow here and leave. Then what? What about those left
behind? How are they going to know they can get better?”
To which Tommy had no reply. There was an awkward silence in the room.
“How is your work going on? What are you planning for the future?” asked Tommy.
Suddenly tears rolled down from Arthur’s eyes, “It’s time to get serious”, he cried.
“It took you this long to realize this simple thing”, replied Tommy.
Arthur told, “Julia needs more stability in her life, soon she will start to go to school. I need
to provide a good education for her. Give a good life to her, May and all of us.”
Tommy, cleaning up his tears, told him, “You will be able to do everything, you are the best
father I know.”
Arthur’s phone rang, he had to head to his office for his overtime shift.
“I need to earn more to make everything work. Guess I will have to come to your place to
make it work. To buy a house and all. I bet your mother is proud of you. So, was this a
celebratory meal?”
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