Beatrice found the Professor out in the garden, sitting on his customary bench, watching a quarter moon. Upper winds sometimes whipped clouds across it, giving an effect many moviemakers would have died for.
“Is this seat taken, Sir?”
“Why, no, Miss. My mother got off at the last stop and gave me twenty-five cents to see the movie but I’m not supposed to talk to strange women.”
She laughed and sat beside him, closer than the width of the bench actually required. She also quietly regarded the moon for a while as though there was no one else there. “Can I ask something personal or is your mind not in the mood tonight?”
“Ask me anything you like. But I can’t promise you a straight answer.”
She smiled but said, “I’m in a mood for straight answers but you don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
He looked sidelong for a second before returning his attention to the sky. “Alright, then, I’ll play along. Straight answers, Scout’s honor. What would you like to ask?”
“How did you get here? I mean, you had a successful life, right? Educated, a kinda fame in your writings. People listened to you, didn’t they? You were… someone! So… what happened?”
“I got old.”
“A straight answer doesn’t just tell part of the truth. That’s my rule for tonight.”
“Everyone else got old, too. Friends died off, or their minds did. At some point I realized I never really had any true friends, just colleagues and acquaintances.”
“Family?”
“Not really. I’m an only… was an only child. Mom died trying to make a sister. The baby didn’t make it, either. Part of my Dad died then, too, and eventually the rest of him followed. So, I kinda grew up on my own. I don’t even know about any other relatives. I’m a dead end.”
“Wasn’t there ever anyone… you know, special?”
“When your only friends are books, you’re not popular. You’re not invited to anything. Everyone who wants to get along avoids you. Most of the notice that you do get from other kids is not the kind you want. So you bury yourself deep in studies and books, the things that made you a loner. It’s a vicious circle. Studies and work became my life. And for a long time I was satisfied with that. But I ended up not long ago with no one interested in my work anymore, no friends, no family and evidence all around me that I didn’t have a lot of time left.”
“I’m sorry, maybe I shouldn’t have asked…”
“It’s fine. I’ve faced the facts already. But you see, I am terrified of slowly becoming a vegetable. Were I braver, I’d be able to check myself out from life when and where I wanted. But… well, I learned about this place and came here to have done for me what I couldn’t do for myself. I guess that’s my whole story.”
They sat for a long time, saying nothing. Finally, Beatrice said, “I’m glad you came.”
“So am I. This is more like life should have been. Work, yes, but time to look at the world. To watch the sky. Time to sit and talk with a friend. And when I know it’s time to go, Mistress will see that I die with some dignity.”
“She won’t let you go easily.”
“Eh?”
“She’ll do her best to convince you not to. She can be very convincing, as you know, and she needs you. Not just that, she likes you.”
“Hmmm.”
“I like you, too.”
Aware that she was looking at him just then, he smiled. “And I like you.”
She went back to staring at the moon for a while, then said, “A lot.”
“I…” He felt her fingers lightly touch the back of his hand.
“Uh…I… think I have to answer the call of nature.” He stood quickly, almost stumbling, and began walking to the garden entrance.
“You’ll come back?”
“Ahh, no. I don’t know… don’t wait for me.”
“Oh… okay.” When he was gone, she said to the moon, “I’d wait for you.”
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