Did you catch Monday's feature of northie's story? As I get older, and I also take care of my older parents and parent-in-laws, I often find the theme of this story is quite on point. The village we gain in our older years might not be the one we expect, but it might just be the one we never knew we could count on! 

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“Thanks, Brian. That's what I need. Ehm … I'm waiting for the library to open 'cause I'm going to learn how to use a computer. First time ever.”

The other man smiled at him. “Good for you. Once you get the hang of it, you'll wonder how you managed without the internet and everything. It's nothing to be frightened of. Many people regard it as essential to their lives. I do pretty much now.”

Eric immediately thought of Andy, Then he looked at Brian. The other man was very different from Andy. More like him.

Brian looked around for a moment to see if anyone else needed serving, then sat himself down at Eric's table. “One of my daughters has been living in Melbourne for ages now, and she spent forever pestering me to learn. It's been what, six years now? Didn't know one end of a keyboard from the other, or what a mouse was when I started.”

Eric put his cup of tea down in surprise. Someone else who'd been in his position … He was all ears as Brian continued.

“She paid for an Adult Ed. course and a computer – I know I was really lucky in that respect. Anyway, you should see me now. We Skype, email, share photos, post updates – it makes it so much easier to share in her life. We only get to see her and the children every few years. Even the missus learnt, and she was much more reluctant than I was. And it can be used for pretty much anything else you can think of – booking holidays, making friends, watching movies on demand, keeping up with whatever sort of news interests you … That for me means keeping up with the morris men. It even makes it easier for me to keep my accounts.”

Eric knew he was staring. Somehow he found it hard not to. The man opposite had started out as clueless as he was now, and had not only survived to tell the tale, but was clearly enjoying everything about it.

Brian looked round again, checking to see if any customer needed anything. He settled more into his seat. It looked as though he was ready to have a good talk. “Do you have family, Mr Whitehouse?”

Eric shook his head. “No, I've been on my own for most of my life.”

He had some distant cousins, but he could hardly remember their names, never mind where they lived. What should he say? His companion was obviously wondering what his reason was for exploring computers. He decided a version of the truth was probably safest.

“A friend thinks I'd benefit from learning. I enjoy reading and he says that there's much more choice out on the web.” He hurried on, hoping that he wouldn't get asked what kind of reading he was talking about. “And I've been around gardens most of my life ...”

The other man interrupted. “Of course, you've spent most of your working life on one estate or another. You'll be able to look round all sorts of gardens on the web, and not just in this country either.”

He looked as though he was going to continue, but the outside door opened. Two tall, well-muscled lads from the construction site nearby came in, talking loudly. All hi-vis, safety helmets, work boots, they turned most heads, if only for a moment.

The owner got up out of his seat. “Morning, lads. I'll be with you in one moment. Your usual, is it?”

They both nodded and sat down, phones out, eyes glued to screens.

He turned back to Eric. “No rest for the wicked … That new housing development's been a godsend – they don't have the time to go to the other places. I'll need to get cooking – they'll want a bacon and sausage roll each. Right, well, I hope you have a good time. If you need any help with anything, you know where I am.”

Eric looked up at him and smiled. He felt he'd suddenly gained a friend – a most unexpected friend.

 

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