Back and Forth

Yesterday when I looked out my bedroom window, I saw an elderly man crossing the street. He was well dressed and over his gray suit he was wearing a long dark blue overcoat.

When he reached the other side he simply turned around and crossed again. It intrigued me for he did this several times.

I wondered if he had temporarily lost his memory and couldn´t figure out where he was going or perhaps he was in trouble and needed help. I tried to call his attention so I could ask him if he needed anything. He did not notice me. He just kept on crossing the street, back and forth.

I ran down the stairs, threw on a jacket and flung the door open. When I finally reached the sidewalk he wasn´t there anymore. Puzzled I decided to go for a walk and see if he was around.

I went to the corner but I couldn´t spot him anywhere. He was nowhere to be seen.

On the next morning there he was again. Instead of running down to help him, I watched and counted how many times he was crossing the street; thirty-three.

Why was he doing that? What was wrong with this man?

This went on for a few more days when finally I decided to wait for him to appear.

He didn´t seem to notice me on the sidewalk. He just walked back and forth 33 times.

Then he walked past me.

-Good morning. Excuse me sir?

-Good morning young man.

-Could I ask you a question?

-Certainly, what can I do for you?

-I am very curious about something. Every morning for the past week you have come to this spot in front of my house, cross the street 33 times then leave. If you don't mind my asking? Why?

-Have you been spying on me?

-No sir, I am just curious and have noticed this. At first I thought that you needed help. Then, I just decided to ask.

-Well, you see. I was told that if I cross this street 33 times at 7am one day the portal to the other world will open and I will cross over.

-That´s crazy. What portal? What other world?

-You see young man, I have lived a long life and have seen and heard many things. Once I was in a country overseas and was stopped by a beautiful young woman who read my palm. She had some strange powers.

-She gave you this address?

-I know it is hard to believe, but she said “you will cross over at 7am at 367 Lincoln Road after you have crossed the street thirty-three times.”

-But that is insane.

-I thought so too  until my son put me in the resting home near here and I read the name of this street and when I saw that the number was the same one, I decided to give it a try.

-But a portal to where?

-I don´t know really but I am quite curious, just like you, so I come here every morning and try it.

-When did you say she had said this to you?

-I didn´t. But it happened in the 80´s, if I am not mistaken in the mid 80´s.

-Don´t you think it is odd that only now, twenty years later you have come across this street?

-Perhaps. But I´ve got nothing to lose. I am retired and need to do my daily exercise and to be frank; staying at the home with all those old folks is quite boring.

-Can I ask you another question? What do you think this other world is like?

-Ah, my boy, I imagine it to be a wonderful place filled with nature and only nice people; the opposite of this world. Yes, totally the opposite, of that I am sure.

-It sounds nice but I do not think that the information the woman gave you is true.

-We´ll see. Have a nice day my chap, I should be on my way.

-Have a good day sir.

With this I went home and thought about the talk I had just had with the old man, or better, crazy old man.

The next morning my alarm clock didn’t go off and I was awakened with a loud screeching noise that made me jump out of bed and look out the window.

As I looked out my bedroom window, I saw the elderly man stretched out in the middle of the street lifeless. He had almost been hit by a car. Unfortunately his heart couldn´t take the fright and it stopped beating. As I took a closer look, I could see there was a smile across his face. He looked happy. I guess that after all ,that young fortune teller was right. He must have crossed over to a better world at least that is what his peaceful face read.

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(Written: October 15, 2012)

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