OVERHEARD

As I was walking home today from the post office I decided to take the scenic route and walk past the row of shops along North Circle Drive between the Candy Cupboard and the Rustic Theater. I observed two elderly couples sitting on a bench in front of one of the shops, and as I approached I overheard one of them saying something to the effect of "Let's go find some lunch." One of the men had a cane and appeared to be more feeble than the rest. His wife helped him to his feet and offered her arm to steady him while he negotiated some steps coming down off the little porch in front of the shop. She watched him carefully and cautioned him, saying "Watch those steps, honey." To which he responded, "Why? They don't ever do anything." The other man smiled, and the other woman guffawed, which prompted the first woman to add, "Please don't encourage him."

The man with the cane winked at me good-naturedly as I passed.