I was laying in the grass in the park with my dog when two elderly men approached and sat down on the bench. They sat in silence for a while then the one with white hair looked over at the salt and pepper haired one and started talking. I wasn't trying to be creepy, but I was already sitting there, and I could hear their entire conversation.
"What about that one Lionel?" The salt and pepper haired one asked the white haired man who's name was apparently Lionel.
"No Teddy," said the white haired man shaking his head.
"Come on Lionel, don't be such a downer- she has a nice butt right? And you've always liked brunettes," Teddy said, laughing and nudging Lionel in the ribs with his elbow.
Lionel just sat there shaking his head at his friend not budging.
Teddy got up walking over to the tall brunette, whispering something in her ear. She turned around horrified, but when she saw who it was, her eyes softened and she chuckled a little bit before shaking her head no and walking away.
Teddy returned to the bench with the same amount of energy he left with, taking up his seat next to his best friend again.
It was silent for a while except for Teddy's cat calls to pretty women as they walked by.
After a while Teddy turned to his friend Lionel.
"You know what's changed Ted, it's not the same anymore.." he said trailing off and looking into the distance.
Teddy looked around, seeming to be at a loss for words for the first time since they'd arrived at the park. He noticed me with my dog and got up to come talk to me. At first I thought he might try to hit on me too, but when he sat in the grass beside me I knew he was serious.
"Excuse me miss, but my friend has been very down for a while and I'm not sure what else I can do to help him, He's always loved dogs and pretty women- do you mind talking to him for a bit?" he asked looking at me pleadingly with pretty green eyes. For a minute I pictured those eyes in a younger face, and I could've imagined them working wonders on women for Teddy a few decades ago.
"It'd be my pleasure," I said smiling and getting up and walking over to Lionel. He didn't even seem to notice my presence until I asked if I could take a seat.
"Oh no problem young lady, hey is that a great dane?"
"She sure is, and a lazy one too," I said laughing at my giant baby of a dog layed on her side in the grass beside the bench.
"What's her name?" he asked reaching down to rub her stomach.
"Her name is nena, be careful rubbing her stomach like that- if you stop the little brat will not leave you alone until you pick it back up again," I said chuckling and looking down lovingly at my dog.
Lionel laughed halfheartedly, looking off into the distance.
"What's got you so thoughtful today?" I asked glancing at Lionel, trying not to seem so serious.
When he was silent I searched for something else to say,
"Something tells me you used to be more like your friend Teddy here," I said motioning to his friend on the other side of the bench.
"Worse," Teddy interjected.
"I guess I was quite the ladies man," Lionel said shrugging his shoulders, "but then I met the love of my life- Claudia," his eyes sparkled when he mentioned her name.
"She must've been a charmer to get a stud like you to settle down,"
Teddy laughed and Lionel blushed, "She truly was- this is where we met actually- she was sitting on this bench right where you are,"
"What happened to her?" I asked, dreading the answer.
"She passed away last week-cancer," he stated matter-o-factly, a tear making it's way down his wrinkled face.
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