Prairie Songs
my novel
Chapter eight
Mike stood up from his chair when he
saw John appeared at the door of the cafe. He immediately waved
his hand, motioning for John came to his
desk.
"Hi, John! How are you? "
"Yacchh ... as you see". John
said quietly and then sat down across from Mike.
"You look
thin and pale," Mike said, as if
concerned.
"What would you like?"
John did not answer, he was more interested in the objects on the table. Pack of cigarettes lying on top of a newspaper that
is still folded neatly, a cup of cappuccino with
a little granule, and a plate containing
several layers of bread.
"Thank you for coming. There's something I want to talk ".
John still did
not answer.
"John ... You can not go on like this!. If you on
like this ... You're not only hurting yourself but
also unknowingly hurt
Karen. "
"What do you
know about Karen!", Said John bitterly.
"I'm sorry, John. I knew she was so mean to you. But did
you forget? Is not Karen who makes being a writer?. "
Mike took a deep breath
before continuing his speech, "Look at you now!. You waste
her efforts, you even forget thyself.
Do you want to make her upset? Do
you think she would be
happy if see you like this now? ".
 |
|
in solitude,
from the darkness,
from the bottom of loneliness ...
|
John was silent contain his feelings. Actually he was very annoyed but this
time he could not deny what Mike just said. Diverted his eyes, watching some of
the posters displayed on the walls of the cafe. For a moment he scanned
the faces of the cafe that
afternoon. His eyes stopped
to the young man who had been continued attention
to him.
Aware that he was concerned, the young man stood from his chair and walked toward a
table occupied by John and Mike.
"Sorry, you are
John Quin, right?"
John were watching before answering, "Yeah, right. What do I
know you?. What
can I Help? ".
"My guess was not wrong. Sorry
sir, actually since
before I wanted
to come to you, but I doubt it. That was the
sight of you, my memory immediately
drawn to the photo on the back cover of a novel
I have ever read. What should I ask for
your signature? ".
John was silent for a moment before nodding in agreement.
Happily handed the young man a pen and a small book.
"Bisma... My name's Bisma." The young man quickly replied
see John stopped
writing and looked at him.
"Bisma?"
"Yes, sir. Bisma. "
"It appears you are not a resident here
Mr. Bhishma. Asia?
"
"Yes sir. Indonesia.
"
"Indonesia
...? Bali? "
"No, sir. Jogja! "
John nodded slowly.
Well, I'll give you
my signature, sir
Bhishma."
He soon wrote a brief words in the book
in his hand:
To Mr. Bisma, a
friend from Indonesia.
-John Quin-
"What made you come to America,
Mr. Bisma?", John asked as he handed back the pen
and the book has been signed.
"Oh, I am here to attend a conference. I
invited a foundation as one of the speakers at
the conference. "
"Wow!, Apparently you are not
ordinary people."
"Maybe next time we could talk Mr. Bisma."
"With pleasure, sir. Thank you for your signature. How nice to meet
you!. Excuse me ".
the young man happily greeted John and Mike then returned to his
desk.
Mike patted John's shoulder after he was gone. "You
see John!. Even readers
of your stuff to
overseas! "
John did not answer, his mind would drift
away. Indonesia?,
Bali?.
He remembered Karen
ever talk about her desire
for a vacation there,
enjoy the exotic island
that quite famous. John back
down to remember it
all.
Meanwhile, the television screen on the corner of
cafe displays a breaking news. An Australian
official, with great emotion criticized the Indonesian government that considered to be slow in resolving cases
of the Bali bombings
that have took the lives some of their citizens.
- * -