We all do it … that is kill time. In various guises and for different reasons we do it regularly throughout our lives. The older we get, the more scientific…the more practised…more serene and less physical the methods are to kill time.
Be it that habitual morning cuppa shared with like-minded persons at the favourite Café or the intimate sharing of views in the ‘Secret Men’s Business’ meetings in an organised ‘Men’s Shed’ atmosphere…or the ‘Women’s Weekly Club’ Meeting or the many organisations that take on volunteers, usually retired people with time on their hands and a willingness to help anyway they can…just to kill time.
There are countless such Associations, all meant to draw older people out to socialise…to partake…to enjoy for no other reason than to fill empty hours. To make their lives more fruitful…more satisfying.
To be cooped up in a dark empty home is no way to kill time…but sadly, many lonely people followed that pattern…
Then for a few there is the other format of ‘killing time’. The darkness of night encouraging those to escape the nest to kill unsuspecting persons…the true meaning of ‘Killing Time’ for a few ‘sub-human’ types…
Excerpt from this intriguing crime thriller:
I guess you could say he was killing time. That he had more time on his hands now since he retired so many years ago…in fact, he had more years as a ‘Retiree’ than as a working man.
A career man.
He’d walk around his neighbourhood for aerobic exercise so he would say. There were some who would say he was a true gentleman while others weren’t too sure. ‘A sticky-beak’ putting his nose where it wasn’t wanted…or needed others would scold. He’s checking out which houses are empty during the day…even at night. ‘Mister Light-fingers’ his ‘tag’ by some cynical old ‘nags’.
He saved his best ‘good mornings’ with a smile to the more attractive women…specifically young, good-looking women so some thought…the older he got, the more he flirted with these attractive women. With a smile he would say he was being friendly and there was no harm meant.
“I’m old enough to be their father…their grandfather…I’m just being sociable…something I couldn’t be while I was working. Now it’s a pleasure…” This pleasurable banter to will away the cynical view of some.
*****
“Whew! I swear it’s getting hotter every year…” Sophie lamented. “That old bloke over there…dressed up in a suit as though he is going to a funeral…”
“At least he’s got a hat on…a wise old bloke”. I replied. “Old people…they feel the cold. That’s why you see them dressed to the nines on hot days…and in the old days you’d never leave the house without being dressed to the nines…”
“Mmm…” Was Sophie’s response as we both watched the old geyser walk along the street. “I wonder what he planned for his retirement days. You know when he was a young blade. More than likely not what he is doing now…marking time…killing time…he would have planned for something completely at odds to what he is doing now”.
“Harrumph…you reckon? By the look of him, he’s had plenty of time to kill…he’d have to be in his late seventies or early eighties…plenty of time to kill. A lot like many his age. Too old to participate…too young to die”. I surmised. “To me he retired yonks ago so he’d be well-practised in killing time…sad in a way, eh? Ex-Army I reckon”.
“Why?” Sophie asked as she turned to me.
“His back…ramrod straight. He walks with some purpose even if it has been reduced somewhat…to a hobble. Not as good as when he was younger on Parade Ground but he still has that walk…that mien about him…most ex-servicemen and women have it…”
“Mmm…” It was obvious that she disagreed with me on my assumption. She sipped on her Iced Tea so she wouldn’t add her opinion…so I thought.
We had managed to get a parking spot just opposite a Coffee Café that I hadn’t visited for some time. The Burwood Shopping strip was always busy. We sat in our Unmarked both enjoying a Chicken and Avocado Wrap and a coffee that had not changed in some fifteen years…it was still one of the best coffees in Sydney…and the chicken wrap? Amongst the best in Sydney…
We too were killing time…it was that type of day. We weren’t that enthusiastic to return to work, our lethargy contagious…or was it the old bloke’s attitude wearing off onto us?
“See the old bloke…” She tittered as she waved an arm in the general direction. “He’s dipped his hat at every attractive women and girl within eyeshot…the dirty old bugger!” Sophie exclaimed. “I’ve struck old men like that…they look at you as though they’re undressing you…it makes me shiver”.
“They’re harmless, Sophs… those old blokes. If you dropped your clothes in front of him, ten to one he’d not know…or couldn’t do what you’re talking about”.
“Bloody hell! Why on earth would I even consider dropping my clothes in front of him…he’s a bloody old man…now if he were…”
“We’re not going there Sophs. Jeez…a harmless old bloke. He’s just filling out his day…killing time before he drops dead…there’s a lot of people like that…treading water…and he’s of an age more than likely that wouldn’t know what to do with an attractive naked woman if she paraded passed him…that’s what happens to us men when we age…we become next to useless”.
“I’ll agree with that but I’d bring the ‘Age of Uselessness’ a little closer to fifty or there abouts. A time to look forward to, eh Joe?” A menacing smile to go with the dig. “You’re not racing towards that time, are you? Whoops…you’ll never see fifty again, will you? You got your retirement all planned out? Like your old Boss who is going to places never heard of before…isn’t that right? He’s been on the road for what? Seven years and the whispers are he hasn’t made it out of South Oz yet…NSW and South Oz in seven years. He should have done the big one by the time you’re ready to retire, Joe. What a life…where-ever the wind takes you…”
“Hah…nah…they spent an entire ‘Wet’ hemmed in…at some waterfall in the Kimberley!” I almost burst out laughing. “He and his missus love it. They say they should have done it earlier…years ago…yeah, they’re in the Flinders Ranges in SA…they love it though it can get a little hot in the middle of summer…high forties…”
“Nah…that’s not my style…that’s way too hot! What worries me about that set-up is what happens when age catches up to them…they’ll be confined to the Motorhome somewhere in some Caravan Park in an outback township not able to move because of some old-age malady…”
“Since when have you become so negative? Besides, they still have their family home…if something like that happens God forbid, they will be able to get home…”
“If they can…”