Oswald spent his childhood and most of his adult life living in a city. To him there was nothing better than to wake up to the sound of the bustling city on the streets outside his apartment window. He loved the frantic speed that everyone especially himself moved at. There was never time to just sit back and relax, it was a constant go-go-go atmosphere.

With a feeling of dread, he was forced to take a vacation every year by his company. That never even slowed him down. He would go to another city if he traveled at all. Every day was jam packed full of activates and events to attend, never actually getting any time off to really relax. This entire concept drove his wife Melisa absolutely insane.

It was about two years ago when she finally put her foot down and told Oswald that he had to choose one of two options in their relationship. He could stay in the city and continue to work his life to the bone and she would leave him or he could move to the country with her and their son. It was an easy decision for Oswald; he gave up his city life and moved with Melissa. Everyone he knew started to call him “Green Acres”, he hated the name and even more he hated the idea.

Over the last two years I’ve seen Oswald very slowly acclimate to his new surroundings, while Melissa had no problem fitting right in after being raised on a dairy farm. Looking at his time here it is easy to see he hates the quiet and the fact he could not be another anonymous person in the background. In fact, he stuck out like a sore thumb everywhere he went, that happens when you wear a three-piece suit every day.

Every Thursday I see Oswald at the local diner in the center of town, for lunch. I spent a lot of time there since I retired. It’s a real happening place, especially if you want to hear the gossip about anyone and everyone in town, who needs a newspaper. I think the best thing on the menu is the coffee and I probably drink at least a pot a day.

Oswald may have only been living in town a short time however; you could set your watch on how predictable his schedule was. He would arrive at exactly 1105 and sit at the corner table. The waitress always knew what he wanted without even asking him. It was always the same a medium cheeseburger with a lettuce, tomato, onion and a fried egg on top. On the side was an order of fried pickles, which were not even a menu items. Even his drinks were predictable, a pitcher of water and two wedges of lemon on the side. I’m still not sure what was in those tea bags that he produced from hi coat, they smelled awful.

On several occasions I tried to sit with Oswald to try and get to know this strange induvial. Every time he was distant and barely said two words to me. That coupled with his tea made the interactions uncomfortable, to the point I decided to just let him be. I basically decided that if he wanted company or to try and fit in he would have to make the first step.

Then all of a sudden there was a Thursday when Oswald didn’t show up on time, in fact not at all. Everyone wondered what had happened to him. The following week it was the same thing. I decided to take it upon myself to check on him and see what had happened to poor Oswald.

When I arrived to his house I found only his wife Melissa there and their son, both of which were working in the garden. Okay she was working he was playing and being a nuance to his mother. She told me I could find Oswald out past the back forty on the riverbank. Hiking out there I didn’t know what to expect.

There was Oswald in a pair of torn blue jeans with the cuffs rolled up, a filthy open white dress shirt, and a straw hat. I was shocked to say the least, if I didn’t know any better I would have sworn that Huck Finn had come to life.

“Hey there Fred, come on over and sit a spell.”

We sat there on the river bank smoking cigarettes and fishing of trout. Since that day we have grown into good friends and spend a lot of time out in the woods or just relaxing with a fishing pole. No one in town ever thought Oswald would fit in, it just goes to show you never know the truth about people just by looking at them.

I know I got behind this month. However, I am going to catch back up by the end of the month. So check back soon for an all new recipe and yet another short story. Next month i’ll be back on the ball, or a least I hope I am.

I hope you all enjoyed this short story. If you enjoyed please give it a like to let me know. Also if you have any thoughts, comments, or suggestions for future entries please feel free to leave it in the comments below.