The secret of happiness perception is everything

Short fiction story

He was the picture of
Bloody health !
My mate Geoff

How do you do it ?
I asked him one day

We’d been at the beach
All day great waves

Looking at his
Bulging top pocket
Obviously there lay
A snug cigarette packet

He smiled with a look
I had never seen before

A laugh surfaced to the top

‘What ‘ I replied
Is your Dam secret ?
You are a cyclops of good health
Run marathons
Surf
Hike
Camp
Surf
Gym every day
Walk at sunrise sunset
Sleep well
Wake early
Go bed at a reasonable hour
And you still run rings over me !’

He looked deep into my eyes

‘I like to pretend ‘he said smug

Pretend what ? I said

The penny dropped

Ya see mate He’s a pretend smoker
Said his invisible
Friend
Sitting on his shoulder

That’s right
Mate he said patting
His friends imaginary thigh
On his left shoulder

Oh gosh I’m seeing things
I thought
Rubbing my eyes
In the late afternoon sun

We share this packet
Lasts us a whole week
Sometimes more
He said

His imaginary friend
Said
Let’s try another brand
Next time

Ok said Geoff
Happy to comply
As long as we split it again it’s cool
No worries said Oscar.
He even had a bloody name
This is worse than I thought
Looking up to the sky

Serious ?I replied
He said

Yes seriously !
It works for me

So where’s the butts ?

I asked


Well
We don’t own a lighter he said

Get one tonight at the
Servo
His imaginary friend
Suggested

Ok my mate said
To thin air

Later driving home
I saw them both stop
At the servo


In his hand he had a lighter
And two cokes
And two Cornetto ice creams

I thought ok
The secret of life and happiness really
Is perception

I did a u turn back to the servo
Waved to them
Both pulling out of the
Servo.
(Note servo is just Aussie slang for a garage or petrol station )

I then filled my car up then Went and bought what he had bought
Adding a packet of Marlboro reds


Big night eh love ?
The attendant asked me
Tallying up the cigarettes the lighter two ice creams and two cokes

No Just the usual
Just me and my mate
And Netflix
Patting my shoulder
Smiling

Always loved a good movie at home
Dam I forgot the microwave popcorn
I said to myself

Next time he said !

Ok and I’ll call ya Smitty

Yeh I like that said Smithsonian

And ask your two mates over next time

I agreed

Now put your seat belt on !
I reminded him firmly


Yeh right smitty grinned and rubbed his hand in my hair


Life was good 😊

Ps
The attendant well I found out later she had
Heard me muttering all the way to the car
And thought he’s a happy chap
What’s his secret 🤫 I wonder she said to her imaginary offsider

She could write a book about this suburb. So many happy people