The Hermit Next Door by PJ Vye

Author:PJ Vye [Vye, PJ]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-10-01T23:00:00+00:00

He allowed Willa a few hours of solitude before he began his search, not surprisingly finding her by the river. He handed her a sandwich and she silently ate as they watched the river flow, the occasional stick or leaf matter floating past, their only focus. The chatter of birds and the frog calls were like a meditation soundtrack. And Jack was convinced food tasted better when eaten outside.

Eventually, when he felt the moment was right, he interrupted nature’s rhythm patterns. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine.”

Instinctively, he left it at that. He was only just beginning to understand the parameters of her well-being, and he was determined to give her space when she needed it.

It was some time before he spoke again. “I wanted to give you this.” He handed her his iPod touch with a set of headphones attached.

“What for?” she asked, looking at the blank screen.

He swiped his finger and showed her the list of songs contained within.

“I organised for someone to find out where they dumped your property, after you were evicted. They found it.”

The pain on her face was too much for him to bear and he had to look away. “I’m sorry Willa, but there was nothing left of any value. Everything was broken and the cassettes had been smashed or buckled from sitting in the sun.”

“Yes, I know,” she said.

He hurried on, trying to limit the hurt. “But I had the guy recover as many of the cassette covers he could find. All the titles you had handwritten on, I downloaded onto this iPod, so you can listen to the songs that were on your cassette tapes. I know it’s not the same, but… I’m just so sorry about what happened. I wish it could have been different.”

She took the small machine in her hands and touched the screen tentatively. He showed her how to swipe and tap, to find the song list, how to play, how to change songs. She’d never used this kind of electronic device before and as she placed the buds in her ears and music filled her head, her face brightened with such joy. “Wow. All these songs in one tiny rectangle. Thanks, Jack.” She shouted.

A prickle of pleasure spread through him and he couldn’t remember ever feeling so good about giving a gift before.

A pair of lorikeet birds; a mass of green, orange and blue feathers, flew onto the ground only an arm’s length from them and got busy pecking in the dirt. They hopped around flicking up sticks and dust until a magpie called out his ownership of the tree and they disappeared in a flurry of colour and wind.

“You know its hours like these that help me understand why you live like this—as a hermit,” he said, stretching out beside her.

She pulled out one of her earphones. “Excuse me,” she answered. “I prefer recluse.”

“Sorry, my mistake. Recluse,” he said. The smile she returned gave him the strength to ask. “Why did you do it? Reject society,

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