Youth By Association

His days of youth were well behind him. Lost amongst the haze that had formed in his mind over the past twenty years.

Sometimes he couldn't tell if it was age creeping up on him or if it was his body's sign to stop smoking so many Marlboros a day. As if the smoke was somehow beginning to seep inside of him and take up residency. Either way, his childhood had seemed so far back, out of reach. Memories still remained, but were hard to grasp and pull back into focus.

Time had taken its toll on him, along with the chain smoking. The years had attacked his joints, sparing nothing. His back was always arched, his fingers gnarled. He didn't mind though. He understood what it meant to be old. Although it did bring with it some positives. He loved his grey hair. Ever since being a child he had wanted his roots to be silver and he finally got his wish - if not sixty years later. His skin was permanently tan and tough like leather. A dark rich brown. He loved how he smelled. Of hair tonic and tobacco - the scent of a true man - like his father when he was growing up. It had taken years to mature, but finally it was perfect. The days of being shy were left in the past. For so long he had cared what those around him thought. How he dressed. What he looked like. How he spoke. It wasn't until age made its presence know that he let go of all of that. There was no use in trying to be someone he wasn't.

These days there wasn't much he could do aside from shuffle around the town, making his rounds from shop to shop, talking with childhood friends or other members of the community. His children had moved away some time ago - getting out of the village in order to pursue their dreams. Chasing them to the city. When he heard from them it was a real treat. A simple letter or card made his day while a phone call made his month. Unfortunately it had never felt the same since the passing of his wife. The community had been there for support. Guiding him through his mourning, comforting him when he needed it. Yet he had become lonely. Lost in life. Wandering around with no real purpose. But he had never been that type of person, to roll over and die and he was never going to be.

So he set out and got a job. One with easy hours. Only mornings and afternoons. It allowed him to still wake up early in the mornings and carry on with a routine like he always had. Brewing strong dark coffee as the sun rose - sipping it on his porch in between drags from his cigarettes. When finished, he'd make his way down the the office and climb into the truck, ready to start the day.

His current mood didn't matter  - the first stop always brought a smile to his face. He actually only had a few along his route, but each addition was wonderful. His youth may have been long gone, but there wasn't anything quite like the laughter of young children to strip away the layers of time that had weighed him down. They'd come running out of their houses or down the street, backpacks jostling around behind them, smiling, eager to get on board and see their friends. As he drove them towards the school, their giggles would fill the air, bringing a smile to his face. Completely infectious. Sometimes he'd even sneak them each a lollipop - making sure they promised to only eat it after lunch. He loved each one of them and couldn't wait for the end of each day, when he could bring them back to their families.

Something about it fulfilled him. Made him feel younger. Warm to the core.

After all, age was just a number.


T