Two Little Boys

I’m not the most sentimental of people. My mother was famously unsentimental and would happily throw out anything that couldn’t prove itself to be of some practical use. I’m not quite as ruthless but the fact that I’ve moved dozens of times over the years means I’m fairly light on personal effects. A while ago my friend John sent me a photograph of us, we could be five years old in it, possibly six, out the back of his childhood house. I’ve known him since I was born, our mothers wheeled us round in prams together, I formed my first band with him, he moved away to work, so did I, we kept in touch but sporadically. We both moved back eventually. When I was waiting for surgery and not allowed to drive he took me shopping. Just before my surgery was due he had a heart attack and died in a shopping centre. A passing nurse with the presence of mind to shout for a defibrillator got him back. We’re probably closer than ever. Treasure your friends, the thread of life is tenuous.