Walk amongst the lights

A curious tale of a stranger, and a light bulb.

Hello little light bulb, how are you doing today?

The stranger would often come by to have an open conversation.  To the outward eye looking in there would be no one there, but the stranger didn’t view it that way; to him objects may as well be friends, after all they tended to be better listeners than most folks anyway.

You seem to be shining rather bright today, I take it you’re in a good mood?

Of course there was no actual response, but the stranger didn’t mind.

Good, good. I would hate to see you in a bad mood.  Far too many folks these days tend to not be enjoying the world around them for one reason or another. 

The Stranger decided to take a seat near the light. 

My young friend, let us hope you never lose faith in the world; times might be trying for some, but there is always something to look forward to.

The bulb itself was hanging from a ceiling, rather low in fact in comparison to most hanging bulbs, if you could imagine such a thing.

It never really occurred to me my young friend, but I certainly hope you don’t mind my company.  For you see I used to be a worldly traveler, not that you’d know by looking at me, but I’ve talked to a great many people in my younger days.  However, most people now seem less interested in talk.  It’s quite sad really, but I can tell after rambling on when it starts to bother someone.  Maybe that’s just me getting older, and who really wants to talk with an old fool such as myself?  That could just be me overthinking it though.  I notice that many younger folks don’t even talk to each other in ways that I remember talking to my peers in my youth.  

The stranger paused

Or maybe that’s just how we all feel as we get older?  As you can tell I’ve had a lot of time to think about this, little bulb.

The stranger glanced at the bulb, but it just emitted it’s usual glow without even a flicker.

You make a good point, probably just thinking about it too much.  Maybe I should acquaint myself with the good folks of the world?  I don’t know my friend.  I do long for the travels that I used to take, but unfortunately my mind and body don’t exactly think on the same page as they used to.

This time there was a faint flicker of the light.

Oh, you really think so?  Maybe you’re right.  Maybe I am over thinking that too.  To be honest it’s been so long since I’ve stopped my travels that I don’t even know why I stopped in the first place.  

The Stranger let out a laugh.

Does that mean age really has caught up with me little one?  Ha!  To think that I wouldn’t even remember why I stopped my travels in the first place.  

The stranger trailed off his words into mumbles that couldn’t be understood by anyone, let alone a light bulb.

Never fret my young friend, if I do indeed gather the strength to travel I promise that I would still visit you as often as I could.  I may have the desire to travel, but let's be honest, I probably wouldn’t be able to cover the great distances that I used to.

The stranger continued his one way conversation for a short while before bowing to the bulb, and thanking it for its time.  As the stranger left, the bulb continued to shine as it had before the stranger even left.

----

A week had past since the stranger came to visit the bulb.  He sat himself down at the same place as before and glanced up at the bulb.

Hello my young friend.  I must say that talking to you had in fact inspired me to take a rather small adventure.  Nothing crazy I assure you, but it certainly did remind these old bones what a journey feels like.  Some of it was by sea, and then a small hike from one town to another simply to take in the scenery; my how places change over the years, last I visited those places it was like a completely different place altogether...if that makes any sense to you.

The bulb simply shined on, patiently listening

You would have loved it out there...or perhaps not if traveling is not your thing.  One thing I do remember from my younger days is that the idea of travel was one that did not occur to me until later on in my young adulthood, so maybe you just need a little push out the door?

Still no response

Now don’t be like that, I assure you that it is perfectly safe, even for a bulb.  But I know that I am coming from a place of a renewed sense of adventure; don’t mind an old fellow like me when I’m just rambling on.  I’d probably tell just about anyone the joys of going on an adventure.  But I can certainly understand why you’d want to remain in a calm place such as this too.

The stranger stopped speaking for a moment as if letting the glowing bulb take in the information.

I won’t press it further, but should you ever want to accompany me, simply ask and we’ll have a grand time I assure you.

-----

The next time the stranger came by the bulb seemed to be a lot dimmer than usual, barely emitting any light at all.  There was so little light that the stranger kept bumping into objects trying to reach the bulb.

Little friend, what’s wrong?  The stranger asked, quite concerned.

I know it’s been several weeks since we last talked, but I promise that I haven’t forgotten you.  I hope you weren’t too lonely.

A small flicker in the bulb, to which the light dimmed even a little more.

Look, I know you’re adverse to adventure, but I think it’s best if we get you to someone who can fix you.

The stranger put on his leather gloves and slowly unscrewed the bulb.  After wrapping it with his scarf he secured it in his pack and then hurried out of the area.

----

The stranger remembered on his recent journey that the first town over the small sea had an electronics repair shop.  He traveled there first in hopes of finding someone who could repair the bulb.

He talked with the gentleman behind the counter, and explained his situation.  The gentleman had inquired why the stranger didn’t just purchase a replacement bulb.  The stranger told the man about his conversations with the bulb, which was met with some very odd looks.  Eventually the stranger was told that the bulb in question was quite old, and that it was some how working to this day was already very unexpected.  He continued on to say that since no one was making bulbs of this fashion anymore that he didn’t have the knowledge to repair it.  Not wanting to show sadness in his eyes, the stranger simply thanked the gentleman for his time, and made his way out of the shop.

I am sorry my little friend, I wish I knew how to help you.  

The stranger held the bulb for a moment, but wrapped it back up in his pack after some time.  He then continued to make his way through the town in search of anything that could possibly be of assistance.

Not long after walking past the shops he noticed there was a posting on a nearby news board that had an advertisement for an electronics antique store that had some famously old electronic devices on display.  However the name of the town in question was well over 100 miles away; he would have to secure travel.

----

Eventually the stranger found a means of travel to get out a town that bordered the town he needed to get to, one more within walking distance.  This however had taken most of the finances that the stranger had on him, so how he would get back was another venture altogether, but that wasn’t on the stranger’s mind.

It would turn out that even a relatively short travel to an older adventurer was still pretty tiring, but the stranger felt a burst of energy when he saw the town’s welcome sign.  And after a while of searching he was able to find the antique store in question.

As the stranger entered the old store there was a very musty smell in the air, he took it all in and breathed a sigh of relief thinking that a place with this many old things certainly must have someone that could help him.

After a time there was someone behind a counter who looked like he was working on something over at a work bench.  He had goggles on his head, and a blow torch in his hand.  After noticing the stranger he put down the torch and took off the goggles to greet the stranger to his shop.

Hello there my good man, I have traveled quite the way after seeing your poster in another faraway town to see if you could assist me.

The shopkeeper looked surprised that someone of the stranger’s age would travel the distance to get here, and simply responded that he hopes that he can be of assistance.

You see, in my pack here I have a very old light bulb, but I spoke to someone else about repairing it and they said it wouldn’t be possible for them to do it.

The shopkeeper’s face lit up upon seeing the bulb in question, and explained that he hadn’t personally seen a bulb like this in over 30 years.  At first the stranger’s face grew somber at hearing those words, surely that means this man too had no knowledge of its repair.

The shopkeeper then told the stranger to fret not, and that he had actually worked as an electrician in his own youth.  Normally charging for a repair service he said after hearing the stranger’s tale that he would do it simply out of kindness.  Though it would take a couple days to properly repair something this intricate.

The stranger asked if there was a room he could rent in the meantime, and would pay the fee by offering his services to help clean the shop during his stay.

----

It took several days, but when the shopkeeper screwed the bulb into a nearby lamp it began to shine brighter than the day the stranger met the bulb.

The shopkeeper let out a smile and told the stranger that it must be really happy for the stranger’s dedication for this was the first time he saw a bulb of this make shine quite as bright as it did.  And though the light was indeed brighter, it was still possible to look at it for a few moments without feeling blinded.

The shopkeeper offered the stranger a continued place to stay for the time being, and that he could use that lamp in his room for the bulb to shine on and keep him company.  It would seem that this gentleman is also used to objects being quite good friends as well.

The stranger thanked the shopkeeper and decided to go up to his room for the evening with his little bulb friend’s strength returned.

You see little bulb, adventures aren’t too bad after all are they?

Author's Note

Apologies for grammatical errors if there should be any.