RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29829, 23 May 1962, Page 20

RANDOM REMINDER

WITHER AWAY?

We always park our car in the same place each morning before walking off to work, and we noticed that day after day, week after week, there was a man in a black Homburg hat doing the same thing, on the other side of the road, and with the same punctilious regard for the hour of the day. Then one day he waved to us. We waved back, and that brought him across the road. He introduced himself, as we fell into step, and told me about his four children, that his wife's mother thought she

could have done better for herself. Apparently he studied accountancy, although he had not fully qualified before the outbreak of war. He had joined the Navy, returned, married. As we crossed an intersection he showed me a photograph of his wife, and told me about his W’ork with a grain and seed firm. Then he waved a hand and disappeared into an office doorway. Next morning we 'met at the same spot. I told him about my two daughters, touching lightly on a couple of illnesses, then mention-

ing my wife. I’d brought along an old photograph of her, taken when we were courting. I said something about my schooldays, my career in the army, but I was hardly past Alamein before we reached his office. I looked forward to finishing off this exchange of information next day. But he wasn’t there. I waited a little while, but saw no sign of him. That was a month ago. He surely couldn’t be parking his car somewhere else now? I keep telling myself he must be ill