A Momentary Diversion

A Momentary Diversion: An Experiment in Absurdity

by Alan Loewen

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Patrick sighed and sat on the park bench, letting the wood take his full weight. The chilly autumn air competed with the warmth of the full sun, and he folded into himself and let the sunlight sink through his suit coat to warm his bones.

The workday had been long and exhausting, and Patrick decided to walk another way home through a park he had never before visited. It wasn’t that he did not love his wife and daughter that kept him from rushing home, but he needed the quiet of the city’s park to shake off the stress of the day. He only wanted a moment to enjoy the quiet. He closed his eyes and breathed deeply of the autumn aromas.

Patrick felt somebody jostle the park bench, and he opened his eyes to see an elderly man in a business suit sitting beside him. “May I sit here?” he asked.

Patrick smiled, nodded, and closed his eyes again, hoping his visitor would take the hint that he was not interested in conversing.

His visitor ignored the hint. “So, are you here for the show?' the man asked.

Reluctantly, Patrick opened his eyes. “Show? There’s a show? I didn’t know anything about a show.”

The visitor laughed and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I thought that’s why you are here. Every day at 5:30. It’s quite unique.”

Patrick shrugged his shoulders. “Normally, I head home every day straight from work. This is the first time I’ve ever taken a seat here.”

The man nodded knowingly. “Well, that explains it.” With a grunt, he took out his cell phone and looked at the screen. “We’re early. Others will be showing up momentarily.”

True to his word, quietly, silently, others started appearing, either strolling down the sidewalk or walking out of the woods. The small crowd was a blend of humanity, and conversation was gentle and susurrant. Patrick looked around with growing curiosity. He sensed a growing air of expectation.

“Here they come,” somebody said.

Patrick craned his eyes toward the direction people looked and pointed. The next moment, he rubbed his eyes and looked again in surprise.

From around a bend in the sidewalk, initially obscured by the trees, two antelope came riding a tandem bicycle, their eyes intent on their path. They passed the group and, within moments, disappeared around another wooded bend on the sidewalk.

The crowd began to break up as people started to go their separate ways.

“What … what was that all about?” Patrick gasped.

His companion shrugged his shoulders. “Just a momentary diversion,” he said. “Nothing more.” He got up from the park bench, brushing off the seat of his pants. “Sometimes they are timber wolves ... or anteaters. Will I see you here tomorrow?”

Patrick spent a moment in thought. “Yes,” he slowly replied. “I believe you will.”