NUTS! I’m late I’m late I’m late! I set out of the house early but I’d never been to this café and didn’t realize how out of the way it was. I had already pulled over 4 times to check the Melway and had only 5 minutes till the agreed meeting time. As I was trying to relocate my bearings, my phone went off.
Sorry sorry! im running late! just got into a taxi I’ll b there soon!
Phew! That bought me time. I flipped the map around again. Damn it! Which way is North and WHY is it relevant to this café?
20 minutes later I finally found the café. Of course, all I had to do was make a U-turn and turn left down one street from where I was. Boy, how was I going to navigate us around Australia? I rushed into the café hoping that the taxi got lost t-
‘Hey Deb.’
Damn!
There he was, sipping at his coffee. Before he said anything I started doing a song and dance about how the roads kept changing and North was nowhere to be found. Knight just waited me out with a grin.
‘Want a coffee?’ I sat down sheepishly and ordered a latte. I looked around the café. It was very cute. It was a simple set up that was attached to a gallery. The furnishings were homely with rounded, polished wood. On the walls were endearing pieces of artwork supplied by children from the local primary school that was in association with the gallery. Knight had chosen to sit out on the verandah that resembled a glasshouse connected to the main dining area. I was very happy with my workmate’s recommendation.
Knight looked good. He looked relaxed and stylish with his button-up shirt, skinny tie and pullover jumper. I glanced down at what I was wearing. I changed about 3 times before I opted for an all black outfit of skinny jeans and an off-shoulder slouch long-sleeve top. I normally didn’t care what I wore. As long as I was comfortable, I was right to go. But I somewhat felt like I had to impress Knight.
We ordered our food from a yummy sounding menu and started chatting. It was a blur of words and laughter. Story swapping, jokes, opinions…it was like we’d known each other for years. It was comfortable but invigorating at the same time.
‘So, does your boyfriend know that you’re here with me?’
I raised an eyebrow, ‘Yeah, and he’s cool with me travelling with you. Alone. Just the two of us.’
‘Wow, what an understanding guy.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘We broke up remember? Not that we were together in the first place…’ my voice trailed off. What a stupid grey-area relationship that was. ‘How about you? What’s your status?’
‘See…I’m not gay…but I have a boyfriend.’ There was a pause of stunned silence.
‘What??’
‘My housemate is gay and thinks I’m his boyfriend. It’s great! If he was a chick- I’d marry him. He does my washing, cooks for me, tidies after me…and he’s a great alarm clock. He comes into my room in the morning, sneaks into my bed and I jump straight out ready for the day!’
I snorted, unable to breathe from laughter.
‘Hey, how old are you?’ He studied my face.
‘Have a guess.’ I loved playing the age-guessing game. People always got it wrong.
Knight hummed in thought, looking deeper into my face. I started feeling self-conscious and took another sip of my latte, blushing.
‘Seventeen.’ He concluded. WHAT!?
‘I drove here!’
‘Fine.’ Knight looked sheepish. ‘Eighteen, then.’
‘Do I look that young?’
‘Can you just tell me!’
‘Dude, I finished my four-year bachelor course last year.’ Knight looked blank. ‘I’m 22.’
‘Oh!’ he cried, nearly with a relief, ‘me too!’
I didn’t believe him. ‘What! No way!’ The wrinkles around his eyes did not say 22.
‘Here, I’ll show you my license.’ Sure enough, he was.
And also to my amazement, ‘Wow, you’re only 3 weeks older than me. You’re a Pisces too!’ That sure explained our immediate compatibility.
He chuckled, ‘Fish swim together, hey.’ He laid back in his chair smiling like he knew something I didn’t.
Our meals came out. I took a bite. My taste buds threw a party and everyone was invited. Holy crap! The pumpkin risotto was amazing! My workmate said that the chef here was recognized as one of the top chefs in Melbourne (a detail the price reflected). Knight was also enjoying his meal, nodding with approval.
‘What do you want to get out of this trip?’
I paused, my cheek full of pumpkin. I wasn’t sure how to answer him.
‘I just want to go. I want to wing it. I come across as well-travelled when I list all the places I’ve been; New Zealand, USA, Canada, France, London, Hong Kong, Vietnam, China, and places in Australia. But I don’t feel experienced. Each place was pre-planned by someone else and was for no more than 2 weeks at a time. I’ve always had an itinerary, always had the next place to go planned. I never really stopped to smell the roses. It was like I rolled across the world in a glass sphere. Does that make sense?’
‘Absolutely. But what do you want to get out of this trip?’ Knight repeated.
I thought more carefully. This risotto was so good. ‘A sense of freedom, I guess. I’m sick of being told what to do; tired of restrictions and fed up with asking for permission.’
Knight nodded. ‘Freedom. We’re lucky we have it, but sometimes we have to be taught how to use it, hey?’
The truth of his statement rang through me. Gosh. All these years I’ve always perceived myself as ‘free’…
I squinted at him, ‘How did you learn to be so free?’
‘My parents are hippies.’ I raised an eyebrow.
‘Yeah, I’m not a hippy. I’m too stylish for that.’ He touched his skinny tie. ‘Nah, seriously, they are. But because of that I think it pushed me the other way. I wanted more and MORE. It took a lot for me to figure shit out. Still figuring it out, actually. The book Affluenza, started it all. It changed my life. Before then I was trapped running the cafe-‘
‘Is that what you meant by ‘wasted a lot of life’ in your message?’ I interrupted.
He nodded. ‘Yeah. I was never satisfied. I kept thinking once I turn over x dollars per week I’ll be happy. And every week when I did make the turn over, I still didn’t feel happy. So I turned to other things. I won’t be happy until my girlfriend looks like a model- so I took her shopping, bought her a new wardrobe and paid for a hair stylist. She looked great. I won’t be happy until I have a 52 inch plasma TV- so I bought one. I won’t be happy till I get a new car- so I got one. By the end of it I had all this stuff but didn’t feel happy. There was a void. I started asking myself ‘where does it stop?’ Affluenza answered that for me. It’s about the insatiable desire for material things; to possess the things that society associates with our perception of success. That’s exactly how I was. I was a slave to money. The book made me realize that it didn’t matter how much I achieved, I’d never feel whole if I didn’t take a long hard look at myself and at life, and fill in the void via spiritual means. That’s where India came in. I sold my café, made a tidy profit, and shipped myself off to India for 2 months. There I learnt to appreciate what I have NOW, to be present HERE. When you’re present, everything is at your mercy.’ He finished with a wink.
While he was talking, I couldn’t take my eyes off his face. His features were becoming sharper and more attractive. I was noticing the little details that made him unique; his thick brown lashes, his plush bottom lip with a subtle cleft down the middle...I started feeling strange.
I giggled, ‘You hippy.’ What more was behind those green eyes?
I excused myself to go to the bathroom. When I came back, Knight was standing up with his bag slung over his shoulder ready to leave through the back entrance of the café. I guess lunch is over. I grabbed my bag and took out my wallet to pay for my half of lunch.
‘Nah, Deb. The food was crap. Let’s just go.’ He started walking. I was aghast. Was he serious? Pull a runner? No way! Oh my gosh and I was going to travel with him? Maybe I was wrong about him…I bulged my eyes at him and turned to the register with my money out. The guy behind the counter grinned shaking his head.
It dawned. ‘He’s paid already, hasn’t he?’ I jumped around and broke out into a run at Knight. I collided into his arm. ‘You’re cheeky!’ I yelled.
‘You’re so gullible! Your face was priceless!’
‘Well, I don’t know what you’re capable of!’ I made a move to push him again but he reached out and pulled me into a squeeze.
‘I’m really excited about this trip.’ And squeezed again.
