"Begone rascals", screamed the old man. He was always there, seated at one end of the park bench, his hands on top of his walking stick, his eyes downcast. There was a little boy there too, seated at the other end. I was a regular at that park and everyday before dusk I would go for a refreshing jog around the park and everyday I would see the old man and the little boy and everyday they would be seated on the same bench. They seemed to be in a world of their own.
While children his age spent their time playing games, running around or just rolling on the grass, the little boy would just sit there, his hands coupled between his legs, a cap on his tiny head, shielding his eyes. A collapsible wheelchair rested against his side of the bench. The old man would often mutter something to himself, shove his hands into his pocket, take out some bird seeds and scatter them among the pigeons.
On this particular day, I went jogging again and as I passed the park bench, I saw the old man brandishing his cane at some children who seemed to be teasing him. "Begone rascals", he screamed again.
I could not bear the sight of the old man being harassed. I ran towards the park bench and drove the children away. The old man was quivering and gulping down mouthfuls of air. Placing a comforting hand on his shoulders, I steadied him. "Take it easy" I said, "you will be fine". He looked up at me full of gratitude. "Thank you sir." A wheeze burst forth from his cracked lips. The wrinkles on his old face seemed to deepen as he gave me a warm smile. He must have been in his seventies. "When I was young, I never did things like these....the world's gone to the dogs!"
He suddenly offered me his hand. "How stupid of me. Let me introduce myself. I'm Alexander Malkovich." I introduced myself and within a few minutes I was sitting beside him and we were chatting like we had known each other for ages. "I had a daughter, Jane", he said, trying hard to remember. "She was a good child. Extremely beautiful. But she fell in love with this army fellow. He said he was going to marry her. I warned her against it, but she wouldn't listen. She was too much in love with him. So I consented and my worst fears came true."
Malkovich looked like he was going to break down any minute. Gathering himself, he continued. "He left her with a child and ran away a week before marriage." "Jane refused to get an abortion done. Now no one would even look at her, let alone marry her. She died during labor, giving birth to Peter. Maybe it was better for her, she didn't have to suffer anymore. Strange are the ways of our Lord."
I wanted to console him, but he continued. "Peter was the apple of my eye. But he too was cursed. He began to develop fits...I took him to many a doctor, but no one could cure him completely."
"Peter loved to come here....he would sit for hours on this park bench feeding the pigeons. I knew he didn't have long to live, so I stopped his schooling and brought him here everyday. I wanted him to enjoy what little time he had, to the fullest".
It was getting dark and the air was much cooler now. Malkovich suddenly went over to the boy and adjusted the woollen shawl around the boy's neck. "You'll catch a cold if you're not careful", he said to the boy and came back. The little boy must have been asleep for he never moved an inch.
"Where was I...yes, Peter was doomed to die". Twilight was giving way to night. People were leaving the park and it was almost empty of people. Hardly anyone stayed this late because of the muggings. the night wind was building up. The place had an eerie resemblance to a horror movie I has watched the previous night.
"And one day, Peter and I went swimming; he developed convulsions and drowned. I tried to save him, I tried so hard, but I couldn't, I couldn't. I just couldn't".
Malkovich was sobbing now. I gave him my handkerchief. "don't be so hard on yourself", I said. "It wasn't your fault".
Malkovich looked at me, his blue eyes seemed to stare straight into my soul. "I loved Peter very much. I could not bear to be separated from him. I could not." The sky now had an indigo tint. The park lamps had a heavenly halo around their heads. I sat there perplexed and dumbfounded. Malkovich's eyes were red and he was trying hard not to cry again. He got up. "Well, it was nice to have made your acquaintance, but I must be on my way". He took a card from his pocket. "Here's my card. If you need my services, I would be glad to help. Goodnight sir".
I tried to speak, but my voice had betrayed me. The cool night wind blew the cap off the boy's head. His eyes appeared glassy in the ghostly lights of the lamps. Malkovich picked up the cap and placed it on the boy's head. He then unfolded the wheel chair and lifted the boy onto it.
"Come on Peter. It's time to go home". As they slowly disappeared down the path, I looked at the card. It read:
ALEXANDER MALKOVICH
TAXIDERMIST
"WE STUFF ANYTHING"
The wind blew the card from my paralysed fingers. I never went to that park again
