WASTING TIME WITH PEOPLE
by
Maeve Binchy
eth tried to
be friendly when John and Kitty came to live next door
at Number 29. She made them a lamb stew as a supper
for their first night there. They were polite and thanked
her for her kind gesture but they sent out a very strong
message.
They were very busy people, no time to waste stopping
to eat a dinner, and by implication no time to waste
talking to neighbours.
Beth shrugged to herself. They had each other, John
and Kitty, they had their high-flying jobs, why should
they waste their most import currency – time? And as
the weeks went by she caught very fleeting glimpses
of them. They always waved but never paused.
Kitty once said it must be lovely to be like Beth
and not go out to work every day. But Beth knew that
Kitty would curl up and die if she had to waste her
time being in the house instead of going out and changing
the world.
The man in the corner shop died and Beth thought John
and Kitty would like to know the time of the funeral
so she left a note in their house. Some days later,
John paused for three seconds to say he was so sorry
but they didn't want to be going to a funeral where
they would know nobody and where their presence wouldn't
do anything to help. But so good of Beth to let them
know.
The months went by. Beth watched the comings and goings
at Number 29 from her kitchen window. They never sat
in their lovely garden. Once a month, a firm of contract
gardeners came to give it a little tidy up as Kitty
said. So much better to let professionals do it. They
didn't have parties or dinners or friends around to
sit in their big conservatory. They didn't join in
the sponsored walk in aid of famine relief, they didn't
buy tickets for the coach tour of Magnificent Gardens,
they didn't come to the switching on of the Christmas
Lights, and Beth advised against asking them to help
with Meals on Wheels, teaching English to immigrants
or the Pensioners Party.
She hated hearing them explain that they hadn't the
time to waste on such works, worthwhile as they undoubtedly
were. It annoyed her and made her dislike them.
Click
to continue reading
© Maeve Binchy
