Half of Forever

A very short story about a unique man on a park bench.

I once sat down next to a man on a park bench while he drew in his notebook a cluster of lily pads with koi swimming in between them. An unlit cigarette hung from the corner of his mouth. After a moment of silence, he said, unprompted, “You know, my mother was a mortal, but my father can live forever.” The end of the cigarette bounced as he spoke. “That means I’ll live until half of forever.”

            Watching his pencil shade in a dark spot on a koi, I asked, “When is half of forever?” At that he stopped drawing and looked into the distance, pondering. Finally he said, “I don’t know. Not soon, I hope,” and reverted to his notebook.

Reviews

[C.M Grogan]

I think you could really have something here if you built this up just a little (only a suggestion), if not in what the man says then maybe with you as you sat next to him and listened...like if you thought he was nuts or what you were imagining as he described himself to be half-immortal.

[Marie]

Strange. Good. A brief but meaningful encounter.

[escherflight]

I like this. Great philosophical content and well judged details - very convincing.