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Wednesday, July 28, 2021

the friendly stranger


by nick nelson



it is time, thought sidney, to take a stand.

all or nothing.

the path lies open before me.

i am out of options.

i never thought it would come to this.

it all comes down to this moment.

excuse me, a friendly voice broke his reverie.

who could this be? sidney wondered.

it was a person he had never seen before!

was fate playing some sort of joke on him?

the friendly voice continued, oblivious to sidney’s astonishment.

i was just passing by, and i thought i recognized you.

i don’t think so, sidney managed to reply.

aren’t you ken jones? the stranger asked.

no, sidney retorted sharply, and i am not bill entwhistle either.

but you are bill entwhistle! the stranger cried gleefully.

you mean i have been bill entwhistle all my life, but never suspected it?

you begin to understand.

tell me, what is bill entwhistle’s favorite occupation?

reacting to various stimulations, the stranger replied promptly.

the same could be said for many people.

but there is no mistaking you, bill. i could pick you out of a crowd at the biggest bus station in the world.

and with a cheerful wave of his hand, the friendly stranger went on his way.

i may as well make the best of it, bill thought, as he watched the stranger disappear down the street.



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