Older: Do you have a minute?
Younger: Wait a second (stares in confusion)…
O: Yes.
Y: But how? Oh, I am still dreaming, right?
O: Well, yes, but…
Y: This feels different.
O: It is different, it’s not your typical…
Y: Wait, where are you… well when are you from?
O: 2022
Y: 2022?! How rad is this?! (mouth open)
O: (tired smile).
Y: That’s like… I mean this is like back to the future stuff. I mean this is super future!
O: (chuckles) Super future?
Y: You are like… you are there! I mean, this is like, it. I’ve always wondered about your time. You know, like… how far we’ve come… Are cars flying? Did everyone figure out all the cancer stuff? And you! I’m sure you… I mean, I’m sure we finally have everything figured out! (smiles excitedly, shaking head in disbelief)
O: (exhales, unsure how to say it)
Y: Oh, you’re here to teach me! I knew it! You gotta make sure I stay on the right track, give me some life tips, that sorta thing!
O: Not exactly.
Y: What do you mean ”not exactly”? There are movies and songs about this kinda stuff.
O: Look, I don’t have a lot of time.
Y: (appears annoyed) I thought that… I mean… I’m coming into some pretty critical years, aren’t I? Look, don’t I need you?
O: Actually it’s quite the opposite.
Y: (confused, thinks for a moment) I… I’m just a kid, you know that.
O: I know, I know, but turns out kids have more figured out than we give them credit for.
Y: (Looks down at hands, unsure)
O: (sighs and speaks under breath) I knew this was a long shot.
Y: I uh.. (Deep breath) ok well… What’s up?
O: I’m stuck
Y: Stuck?
O: Yeah I just… I felt so free when I was… well when I was you. Now it’s just… It’s like the energy and fun has been sucked out of me.
Y: Wow, that sounds… Wait, you’re like an adult, you can do whatever you want.
O: (laughs) It’s not so easy.
Y: Why not?
O: Responsibilities mount, people are depending on you, your body gets more tired—and so does your brain… There’s debt, bills, uncertainty, work, money, loss…
Y: Money? Do we get a lot?
O: Ha.
Y: (looks back down)
O: The world is breathing down your back—everyone trying to stay in everyone else’s business. There’s hardly any privacy anymore.
Y: How so?
O: Even on your phone you…
Y: (looks over to landline)
O: (laughs) Oh man, I can’t get into that right now. What I mean is… society has expectations, people have expectations. Even family and friends can…
Y: Do you have expectations?
O: (pauses) I guess I do, yeah. The problem is I’m not reaching any of them.
Y: But, I always thought that…
O: I know, I know. Look, I know what we thought. It’s just… (clears throat and speaks more clearly) It doesn’t always work out how you think it will. We get overwhelmed. (shakes head and mutters to himself) I used to be so sure…
Y: So sure about what?
O: (startled) I guess… (thinking) I have so many responsibilities I hardly know where to begin. And the loss… the heaviness…and the uncertainty of things (pauses) We used to just be so confident, you know? (looks down)
Y: (shakes head) I don’t feel all that confident.
O: (Looks up)
Y: My friends don’t always stay my friends. I can’t even talk to girls. It seems like I always have more homework than I have time for. I guess this school year isn’t going like I’d hoped.
O: Hang in there, this is all really not a big deal.
Y: Easy for you to say. You’re not in it anymore! It’s a big deal to me.
O: I just meant that… (pauses, takes a breath) I know, I sound like a hypocrite, but…hang in there.
Y: (Looks down, unsure)
O: I mean it. It seems like things will never pass, but they will. Just… don’t overwhelm yourself with what you can’t control.
Y: So everything…
O: (laughs) Yep.
Y: (After a long pause) So do I get married?
O: Sure do.
Y: (smiles) What’s she like?
O: Incredible.
Y: Really?!
O: Oh yeah, you have no idea… She’s beautiful, smart, crazy talented…
Y: Kids?
O: Definitely.
Y: Cute?
O: The cutest. Troublemakers sometimes, but the best. They’re like… I mean… you’ll see.
Y: They make us happy.
O: Yeah (nodding head), yeah they do.
Y: Wow. I’m excited.
O: (Laughs, shaking head) Yeah, it is pretty awesome.
Y: I don’t get it.
O: What?
Y: You’re telling me we have great kids, a hot wife, and you’re giving me advice to chill out. Seems like you are doing alright. Maybe you just need to listen to your own advice. You know? Like…listen to what you already know.
O: (Looks away, thinking of everything)
Y: It will be alright, won’t it?
O: Yeah. Yeah, it really will.
-hb mercy
(photo early 90's)
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