I’VE HUNGERED FOR years now for something different to happen in my life. “HELLO DARKENESS MY OLD FRIEND, I feel lost and bored again. I want some excitement and I’ve decided to leave home and find some.”

With my duffle bag full I crept downstairs quietly so I wouldn’t wake any one up. I had nothing planned as to where I was going so I just head towards the highway to hitch a ride. A trucker stopped and I jumped in and we traveled for hours. As he dropped me off again, he wished me luck. With a smile on my face for adventure I started down a lovely old country road. It would be morning soon but already I could see a few of the autumn colors showing through the early dawn and I could smell the fall air as I listened to the rustling noise of the fallen leaves beneath my feet. I felt carefree as I walked into the new dawn slowly approaching wondering what the new day was going to bring. I finally sat down for a snack and just as I finished I could hear music, pots and pans rattling, in the distance. I walked over to a tiny opening in the roadside thick hedges and IN THE NAKED LIGHT I SAW the dawn of morning awakening and a band of gypsies. Gypsies??

I sat for an hour watching as they laughed, danced, sang, and prepared the first meal of their day. They were all dressed in flowing garments with scarves and beads dangling and wrapped around their bodies. Their wagons were off to the side of the campfire. The ones I knew I would be soon riding on.

I crept up to this fascinating group and as I approached they all stopped and stared wondering where I came from. An old gypsy lady came towards me, took my hand, and told me to sit by the fire as she handed me a cup of strange tasting tea which I drank as I told her my name.

Maria, the old woman, introduced me to the others. I then slowly glanced towards one of the wagons and asked her who he was. “Who?” asked Maria.

“YOU KNOW…THE GYPSY WITH THE GOLD-CAPPED TOOTH that is gleaming in the sunlight.”

She gave me a crooked smile and said,” he’s the leader of our gypsy band. I will talk to him to see if you can join us.”

I started traveling with this charming band of gypsies living off the land, bargaining and selling wares for food, sleeping under the stars, and putting on shows for small towns that would permit us in. I enjoyed this life but after three months I began to wonder where this lifestyle was really going to get me. I began thinking of my parents, sister, and older brother even though he was a pain at times. I sat with the old leader one day and asked him if they would always live this way.

He answered by saying,” TILL’ ALL THE SEAS RUN DRY we shall roam free as the wind blows but that is what we love and are born to do, but you young man, need to return to your own home life.

A few weeks later I tearfully said good-bye to my new friends and went back home to a very surprised, joyful reunion they all gave me. That night sitting in my own warm, clean bedroom, Mom came in smiling lovingly and said, “EVERYONE SAYS THERE WILL COME A DAY when we all realize that what we are looking for and appreciate is in our own backyard and life isn’t always greener on the other side. Welcome home son.”

I drifted off knowing that I would never again say,” HELLO DARKNESS MY OLD FRIEND.”

“Are you sure?” she asked me. And in the naked light I saw……her fears clearly etched on her beautiful face. A lump rose and caught in my throat. I loved her with all my being! I loved her so much it hurt!

“You know……the gypsy with the gold-capped tooth that has her tent in the fields?” I asked and she nodded her pretty head. “She read my palms and told me that we were destined to be together Till all the seas run dry…..I’ve hungered for………your love, Alana, all my life. This is the moment of truth and I am taking my destiny in my hands. No harm will come to me!”

Our land had been forcefully taken from us by the Amakelite barbarians. We were forced to pay tributes and they showed us no mercy. Plundering our land, raping our women and stealing our domestic animals. We were tired of it all and wanted back our freedom. I was leading the uprising this night but Alana did not want me to go. She feared for our lives. The Amakelites were better armed, more organised and more in number. But it was not the size of the army I told her but the spirit of the men. We were emboldened to fight till the last drops of our blood because we fought a just cause. I had stayed too long already. I kissed and bade her farewell as I stole into the night. The night seemed to welcome me with excited arms and a warm embrace.

“Hello darkness my old friend……,” I whispered. “I wonder what fate you have in store for me this night?”

We fought long and hard. We fought like a thousand demons had inhabited our bodies. We fought like men who had nothing to lose because they had already lost the greatest of their possesions – freedom. We fought and we won but at a great cost. Many mighty men of valour died that night. They paid the ultimate price for us all.

Oh, you want me to write the story now…

I entered the run down Bar just before midnight. I expected this dirt stained, piss smelling hole in the wall place to be empty.

I walked to the bar, above which hung a crude banner on which “Everyone says there will come a day” spralled on it in big black letters.

“Who hung that?” I asked aloud.

“Callipso did,” muttered the old man two stools away.

“Who?”

“You know… the gypsy with the gold-capped tooth. She comes in here every night.” He shot me a suspicision glance.

“Oh, her. I never knew her name.”

With a none to nice “hrumph” the old man turned back to the bar.

Well that gets you started. In the course of hte mistery you could easily work the others into esay observations or comments by the characters.

At the high school reunion a small group of friends sat and reminisced.

Doug:” Forty years….Forty years.(5) “You know……the gypsy with the gold-capped tooth died in me a good twenty years ago.”

Rick laughed……. ” Hey!! I think I MARRIED her.” Everyone laughed, as Rick’s second wife tried not to glare at him. She was SOOOO tired of his one liners!!

Kitty: “Let’s raise our glasses to the class of ’67 !!”

Annie:” (2) Hello darkness my old friend,” she muttered as she downed the Asti Spumanti.

Rick:”Hey!! Why so glum, chum ?” He LOVED rhyming words.

Annie looked pensive ………. ” (4) I’ve hungered for something….Something elusive most of my life. Now here we are…. Another 40 years gone.” Her eyes filled with tears.

Avery: “You know….(6) Everyone says there will come a day

when all our tears are dried….All our burdens are lightened.”

Annie: ” I’d prefer not being six feet under when that occurs.”

Everyone laughed.

Doug:”Ohhhh, Annie….Ever the clown.”

Annie lifted her glass……” (3) Till all the seas run dry, y’all.”

Her friends were getting a bit worried.

Rick:”Come on!! What the heck is the matter with you?”

Annie put her glass down and looked at him.

Annie:” Hey, Dickie….” ( She never had called him “Rick,” as he insisted, in his teen years.)

“You are married. You have 2 kids. YOUR back is not in pain.

I had a tubal pregnancy, MANY surgeries, my alcoholic husband died of cancer, my family has all died….Oh yes…..My sister ….My ONE remaining relative, has “divorced” me…. Made sure her kids think I am a villain. Let’s see….What else? What else? Oh yeah……. I feel ………

I feel kind of old.”

Rick :” Hmmmmmm. Okay…..Here’s my story.”

His wife stood up……. “I’ll be at the bar if you want me.”

Rick watched as she walked off…….”Okay, Annie…… Let me tell you about my wonderful life….My first wife bled me dry. My son has earrings in his navel and is thinking of becoming a Buddist.

My daughter is about to marry my next door neighbor’s ………….. daughter! My present wife has already filed for legal separation. Mmmmm, have I left anything out?!! Oh, yeah……. I have an ulcer the size of my foot and I just found out my company is down-sizing. I have 2 months to find a new job. I went on a 6 day binge when I was told. And then a light went on in my head. ” You could hear a pin drop!

(1)” And in the naked light I saw………

The answer.”

In unison: ” WHAT!!! What is the answer?”

Rick: “THAT my friend is different for each person.” Everyone looked disappointed. “But I’ll tell you one thing….. The answer lies WITHIN you.” He put his hands on Annie’s shoulders…….. “You HAVE your answer. You just don’t know it……..yet.”

Rick left the gym and went outside in the courtyard.

Doug:” Well what the hell was THAT all about??!! Sheesh!”

Annie put her glass down……. “I am SO sick and tired of being sick and tired.” She went outside to join him.

Kitty:” Well……Damn. Where’s SHE going?”

One by one the friends wandered off , each lost in their own contemplation.