I met up with Ace today at the airport. We always meet up at the airport. Not so much back in the village, always at the airport. Airports seem to be our thing.
The flight was about an hour delayed and two of the girls and me were heading off to SkyCity for a beer when we met him outside Max. He slowed to a halt when he saw us approaching.
"Flight's delayed," I replied to his raised eyebrow. "Estimated departure seven fourty-five."
His face fell, like an elevator dropping one floor.
"Okay," he sighed. "So, where are you heading?"
"Beer." I nodded towards O'Leary's some fifty meters up ahead. "You coming?"
He nodded and tagged along towards the acclaimed authentic Ye Olde English Pub in the middle of the tax free street. I bought him a Samuel Addams I really couldn't afford, and we sat down and talked. For fourty-five minutes we talked about bicycle vacation, food, beer and life in the miltary. It was, as usual, a good conversation. He is sharp, and around him I too am sharpened. I have been worried before about him considering me a peculiar experiment, an excercise in gathering intelligence. Now those worried have been calmed. There was equality in our conversation, a sort of mutual measuring like two cats circling eachother to figure out what kind of opponent the other one would be. As a friend, as an ally and as a potential enemy. I am sharp, and I know that he knows. It was in his eyes.
We had fun.
When time had come to head for the departure gate we had become entangled in a debate about whether guys should give their all in martial arts class even going against girls or if they were to hold back when going against them. I was strongly for the first - I hate being curled through anything - while he kept to the latter view, and it was with that argument we boarded the plane until the engines of Transport Plane 84 Hercules started and drowned out any attempts of conversation.
Back at the village an hour later I unlocked the door to my appartment with a light heart. It had been a good night. All my doubts about this man aside I can at least be sure of one thing. We are friends. Perhaps not best friends - but friends.
And for now that's more than good enough.
The flight was about an hour delayed and two of the girls and me were heading off to SkyCity for a beer when we met him outside Max. He slowed to a halt when he saw us approaching.
"Flight's delayed," I replied to his raised eyebrow. "Estimated departure seven fourty-five."
His face fell, like an elevator dropping one floor.
"Okay," he sighed. "So, where are you heading?"
"Beer." I nodded towards O'Leary's some fifty meters up ahead. "You coming?"
He nodded and tagged along towards the acclaimed authentic Ye Olde English Pub in the middle of the tax free street. I bought him a Samuel Addams I really couldn't afford, and we sat down and talked. For fourty-five minutes we talked about bicycle vacation, food, beer and life in the miltary. It was, as usual, a good conversation. He is sharp, and around him I too am sharpened. I have been worried before about him considering me a peculiar experiment, an excercise in gathering intelligence. Now those worried have been calmed. There was equality in our conversation, a sort of mutual measuring like two cats circling eachother to figure out what kind of opponent the other one would be. As a friend, as an ally and as a potential enemy. I am sharp, and I know that he knows. It was in his eyes.
We had fun.
When time had come to head for the departure gate we had become entangled in a debate about whether guys should give their all in martial arts class even going against girls or if they were to hold back when going against them. I was strongly for the first - I hate being curled through anything - while he kept to the latter view, and it was with that argument we boarded the plane until the engines of Transport Plane 84 Hercules started and drowned out any attempts of conversation.
Back at the village an hour later I unlocked the door to my appartment with a light heart. It had been a good night. All my doubts about this man aside I can at least be sure of one thing. We are friends. Perhaps not best friends - but friends.
And for now that's more than good enough.
the_matt79:
I need to find someone I am sharpened by, and in turn can sharpen.....so good for you on that aspect of life.