Chance Encounter

Chance Encounter

“Excuse me? Have we met before?”

Jan looked around seeing, no one. She stopped. She’d definitely heard a voice. Looking again she saw an owl on a branch near the path.

“It can’t be you,” she said out loud.

“It is! I knew you looked familiar!”

Somewhat shocked Jan looked again. “You don’t look familiar...” she said finally, deciding she was either dreaming or off her rocker, and better find out which. “Where do we know one another from?”

“I’m not sure... I think it was recent. Are you from Ashland?”

“Yes! You?”

“Obviously, I can’t stray too far from home alone.”

“Oh, of course. What brings you here? I believe I thought you were a night creature.”

“I do enjoy being out late, but at my age it doesn’t work out as often.”

“I guess I wasn’t thinking you were that old.”

“Why, thank you! That’s the nicest complement I’ve had in years!”

Jan laughed, “Well, you do look great!”

“Goodness! I can’t seem to remember exactly where we met before.”

“I don’t seem to either...”

“Oh! I remember! At the library! You opened the door for me, we went in together!”

Confused, as Jan tried to remember opening the door at the library for an owl, a woman wheeled her wheelchair out from the bushes. “Oh!” said Jan, “Yes, now I remember!” wrenching her eyes from the owl she added, “Did you get a good book?”

“Yes, ‘Avenel Days’, by Andrea Coney. Have you read it?”

“Yes! Wonderful! Have you read her, ‘About Trees’?”

“Loved it!” she said, “Do you have time to sit? I love to talk books,” she indicated the nearby bench.

As Jan sat down, starting a long, delightful friendship with an amazing new friend, she looked back at the owl.

He winked.