Being new to the area, Craig was just settling into being a part of the regulars at the pub. Of all the people who frequented the local, it was Tom who intrigued him.
Craig took the chance on one occasion and knew he gould get some time when he offered to pay for Tom’s tipple.
“Tom, it looks like you’re on the go all the time.”
“Yeah, well, you know, I’ve gotta keep moving. If you stay still you’re going backwards in my line of business.”
“What business is that?”
“What? Pardon?”
“The line of business you’re in – what is it?”
“Well … you know … I’m a … a … salesman.”
“Oh, so you’re in sales?”
“Yeah, that’s it … sales.”
“So you gotta keep moving for real, I suppose. Gotta get to the next sale, right?”
“Yeah, yeah, that’s it.” Tom was getting his story right in his own head.
“It’s got to be difficult for you at times. Like when a sale doesn’t work out.”
Tom coughed nervously, “Yeah it can be … errrrrrr … tricky. Anyway what line of business are you into?”
“Me? I’m into recycling.”
“Oh. That surprises me.”
“Really? Why’s that?”
“You don’t look the sort to do that kind of … you know … hands on business.”
“You referring to my outfit right?”
“Yeah and your hands are smooth. You come across as though you’d work in an office or something like that.”
“Ahhhhh, well I didn’t tell you what kind of recycling I’m into.”
“That’s true – so what kind of recycling are you into?”
“People.”
Tom spluttered. “Pardon?”
Craig chuckled. “Don’t worry, I don’t go to funerals and dig up dead people hoping to reanimate them. After all, I clearly don’t have the hands for that.”
Tom sighed relieved and smiled in response to the smirk “You don’t come across that way anyway.”
Craid continued, “No that’s far too much hassle. The kind of recycling of people I’m into is something I expereinced first.”
Tom was intrigued, “Oh?”
“Yeah, I had looked to jump through the hoops that I felt others wanted me to jump through. You know get a decent education to get a decent job. Find a decent woman, get a decent house, have decent children and life will be … you know … decent.”
Tom sighed sadly “I hear that.”
“I found myself running from people though. I didn’t want them to see how I felt about myself. I ticked some of those boxes, but life didn’t feel decent. So many gaps. So much that didn’t make sense. So much that didn’t fulfil me. But I couldn’t complain. I couldn’t. So I ran from one business to another. From one attempt at success to another. Never being satisfied. You know what I mean?”
Tom knew only too well, but still couldn’t afford to let it show too much and simply nodded.
“Someone told me this story about the need for ourlives to reach a stage where we realise we need recycling, We need to recognise that there is a life that can be truly useful that doesn’t tick the boxes of others, but means we don’t have to run from one thing to another in desperate search of something that doesn’t exist. We can actually be of use and have a degree of security in who we are.”
“That would be lovely.” Tom said sadly.
“That’s what I thought. I was wondering what about all the stuff I was running from. what about all the junk I left behind. The mistakes I made, the people I let down, all of that.”
“Yeah, what about that?”
“That’s why we need recycling. That stuff needs to sorted. That stuff needs to die. That stuff needs to be judged properly and we need a new kind of life. That’s what I was told … and then … that is something that I expereinced to such a degree, that I’m keen for others to give it a go as well. Especially those who look at the world and look at themselves and realise that it’s not just plastic and paper that can do with recycling. You know what I mean, Tom?”
Tom had never had a conversation like this. He hadn’s stuck around in the pub that long. Yet for the first time in a long while he didn’t feel in a rush. He looked at this Craig guy and saw something that rang true. Something about him made Tom feel he could at least be vulnerable. Maybe there was something to this recycling business,
Maybe there was hope for Tom.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 