đ Happy Fred’s Little Secret
Fred, how come you are so cool all the time. What’s your secret?
I asked
Recommendation: I suggest that you skip the paragraph below and start from the next one. You can come back to it once you complete the read.
Here is the thing. I am experimenting with something new. You have two options that would change the perception of the story a bit. It will affect the ending but not the primary message. It still is a spoiler for some. You can either skip this paragraph and start with the next one or complete it and move forward. If you are still reading this my guess is as good as yours. I would highly recommend that you skip this part. If I were you, that would be my choice. The central character in the story is not exactly who you perceive him to be. I write some stories with a mixture of man and being as it helps in transcending concepts more entirely. Plus, sometimes I feel that we have grown to be superficially tolerant and inversely inward as a species. Now, since that is out of the way, let’s move on.
My neighbour claims to be a musician by profession. Frankly, most of the songs sound the same. His practice sessions are mostly towards the stillness of the night, which makes it distinctly audible. I have never mentioned his odd harmonic vocalisation to him. Setting aside all these, there is one rather unique aspect about him I admire and have always wanted to imbibe. Fred is one of the happiest I have encountered. I am certain he even sleeps with a smile. I can often see him laid back, staring at the moon, just admiring, motionless and calm. Sometimes he sings, for me it doesnât sound much like a great composition. For him, however, it is outstanding. I know that there are others who love his music. Recently he sat singing in the moonlight with a bunch of girls listening to him with dreamy eyes. I was curious how he maintained his cool and decided to ask him. I really needed to chill. After this lockdown, it’s been a roller coaster of emotions. Being my neighbour and also someone who seems to have figured it out, why not? Fred doesnât use a cell phone, TV or gadgets. Surely I couldnât do without those if that was his secret. Walked up to his minimalistic house one evening.Â
âHey Fred, you in there?â
âYes, getting ready for an early dinner, usual stuff.â
Fred keeps a very strict diet, all protein. No vegan stuff for him, he is a vegatheist. Enough of that. Let us move on with the story.
âWanted to ask you something, Fred. How come you are so chilled all the while?â
âOh, I havenât noticed that all that much. I do get bugged, but it’s just for a few seconds.â
âWow, thatâs amazing. How do you get out of it so fast?â
âOh, its rather simple. I eat everything that bugs me.â
âThats it?â
âYup, easy peasy.â
I didnât get that for a moment, and then it all made sense. When I thought it made sense, I asked him the next question, and I got confused again. Fred is sometimes like that; his way of enlightening others is by confusing them first. He says confusion precedes enlightenment. Sometimes he goes a little overboard though.
âSo did you mean that just literally or did you have a metaphorical take on it.â
âOh, you know I meant it literally, yet metaphorically too.â
âI get the literal part…. but…â
Sometimes we sit and talk philosophy. He has a different take on everything. It’s quite interesting how he lays the foundation and structure in his thoughts. Comes out with whole new perspectives to simple everyday things. One day we had a long conversation about water, thatâs his forte too. Ok, thatâs that. Coming back to our present situation, Fred added.
âFirst let me go to the literal side. This will throw some light on the idea. When you eat, it goes down your throat and into your stomach. There you digest it and the body absorbs what we require and shits out the rest.â
âThats the regular digestive routine Fred!â
âYou didnât listen carefully. You prefer the metaphor, I reckon. So here goes. When something or someone disturbs you, eat it, swallow it. Makes sense? It will go into your system where you analyse it and see if there is anything good you could learn from it. Once you do that let the shit go.â
âAh, now thatâs some clarity to it. So you mean to say, just let it go…. passive observer avatar?â
âNot entirely. A truck coming at you, move away. If it is a cockroach, you may stamp it, a big fat snailâŚ.. different approach. If you know its toxic, donât devour it, move away. Keep toxins out entirely. There is some food which is not tasty to swallow but is nutritious because it enriches you. Thats the ones you should consume.â
âSo you mean. Look at the situation, avoid or take it in. If you take it in analyse, assimilate the good and throw out the shit.â
âExactly, now we are almost on the same page.â
âAlmost?â
âThats right, the literal partâ
âHow do you know which bugs are safe?â
âI guess it is geneticâ
As we spoke, a fly came and sat on a leaf. Out went Fred’s tongue like a whip, and in the blink of an eye, fly down his throat. He cleared his throat and said.
âIts almost night, time for my serenade. Catch you later.â
I waved and headed back home after a fulfilling conversation with one more new formula learned. One more tool for the bag of life.