Silence

So we were having our picnic near this spot otherwise empty, and while we were picnicking a very unusual thing occurred, in that it has never happened since; although for the times and all the strange people wandering around in those days, it was not that much.

A stranger wandered into our site and sat down at our picnic table. Gerry our unstated leader because he was a teacher, ten years older and the most outgoing of us, friendly and would talk to anyone always bringing strangers home to dinner, invited him to have some food. The problem was this stranger didn't say anything. He was early twenties, dark rich auburn hair, but not overly hippie long. Dressed like a college student --- nothing elaborate, no jacket, just shirt, slacks and leather shoes. Probably from five-ten to six foot tall, weighing one forty to one sixty pounds. Fairly average all the way round and not bad looking.

Perhaps the stranger put an index finger to his lips in the universal sign meaning not talking. At any rate he made himself at-home and stayed until the gathering broke up some 3 or 4 hours later. Gerry volunteered his behavior was a vow of silence. He liked the idea, perhaps because he was Jesuit educated and had a certain romance for the cloistered monastery life, religious meditation, and a certain romantic notion of silence. At any rate Gerry seemed to have no problem with this guy, nor did anyone else for that matter. So maybe it was just me.

Gerry was a college English teacher and was used to speaking and acting in front of people. Personally I had found that I had a problem with this guy. Found myself wondering who this guy was.

(3 of 4) Next Page