The Last Good Night

Oct. 10, 2019

I wasn’t going to go out in the evening. I had already been out earlier in the day and now it looked like rain, but I had to go out again. By all weather reports, this was the last warm night. Still near 70 at 6:30.

I walked to the parking lot across from the train station and stayed there for most of an hour. The last rush hour Metra train came. People departed and came down the long, wooden staircase, either headed to their cars or they walked home. After the train passed, it was quiet.

I laid out some nuts for my pet squirrel, Buddy, who lives in a tree where I smoke my pipe. Buddy was likely asleep. You rarely see squirrels out in the evening. Then, I did what I do most every day – leaned against the remains of an old fence and smoked. Only it was after dark.

A few more people passed, a few cars drove by. The pipe factory (water and gas pipes) was still operating an extended day shift. After a short while, two large, black SUVs pulled into the parking lot, near where I was standing. They were both Metra Police – spelled out in huge letters on the sides of their cars.

I waved at the gal in the SUV nearest me. She waved back. There was a gal in the other car, too. They got out, chatting as they walked to the station. Nothing seemed to be up – they just appeared to be doing a routine check.

It was time to go. I walked toward home, but it was a night where the air was warm and the smell of late summer still lingered in the air. I walked slowly.

I had been taking pictures with my flip phone and was hoping to catch the chihuahua – another buddy – who sits on the stairs of the Spanish lady’s house and barks at me. She has an agressive bark like all little dogs do, but she’s usually saying hello. She was in for the night because the front door of the house was closed. It’s usually wide open if the family is home during the day.

There were only a few more houses to go until I had to turn to go to the Senior Residence, where I live. I stopped. A sole cricket was singing the last notes of his summer song. I stood there, listening, while all good summer memories of many years flooded my mind. They were brought out by that cricket’s chirp. I took a picture of where the music was coming from, then decided to walk to the Jewel for some ice cream before I went home.