Mindtease

Chapter 3

"Kirk," the young male voice called, "Kirk, don't you remember me?"

Kirk sighed with a low groan of frustration, of all the times and places for an unexpected rendezvous with someone.

"It's me," the voice said, full of enthusiasm, "Kirk remember me?"

Kirk rubbed his face, wiping away some of the tears, and looked up at the interloper.

A tall figure stood beside him next to the bench, and Kirk could see a young man, another college kid like himself, wearing a black T-shirt, black basketball shorts, black shoes with short grey socks. The closely cropped dark brown nearly black hair on the head, clean shaven face, and wearing a pair of sunglasses. The pasty white skin seemed to glow in the sunlight, but was contrasted with the body hair on the exposed arms, legs, and even the top of the shirt. The young man looked down at Kirk intently, his arm on the back of the bench, the other at his side.

"Kirk," the young man asked plaintively with a hint of dejection, "don't you know me?"

Kirk looked at the young man, somewhat tall, thick but not fat, and suddenly a flash of recognition dawned upon him.

"Joshua...err, Josh," Kirk said. "Is it Josh?"

Josh smiled a warm smile with his teeth in acknowledgement, and put his hand on Kirk's shoulder in reassuring confirmation.

"Yes Kirk," Josh said evenly, "Kirk Captain..." Josh's voice trailed off enigmatically.

Kirk was now sure it was Josh...his old friend from when he was a kid, Joshua Rogerson Kendrick. But Josh, well he had moved away many years ago when they were both in high school after his dad died.

Kirk suddenly felt the strange contrast in feeling, an old friend, they had been close as kids, the elation against the terrible misgiving of death.

"You okay Kirk?" Josh asked, moving around to sit down beside Kirk on the bench.

Kirk sighed again at the realization. Yes, Josh had interrupted, and now felt guilty about it, although Kirk wondered why.

"You caught me at an awkward moment," Kirk said, "and some embarrassment at where I'm at."

Josh put his arm gingerly around Kirk's shoulders in a loving, brotherly form of affection toward his old friend.

"Well," Josh said carefully, "I hope you don't mind. I saw you sitting here and recognized you...wow I hope it was not too much of a surprise."

"Oh no," Kirk answered. "Just some things...and you showed up out of nowhere."

Kirk paused, inhaling slowly and then letting out the breath silently.

"I'm surprised, but glad to see you Josh. It's just been so long, you understand?"

Josh shook Kirk reassuringly as he answered, "Totally Kirk."

"I see your fashion sense is still the same," Kirk chided his old friend, "T-shirts and cutoffs with your pearly whites."

"And you dress like a homeless bum Kirk," Josh retorted. But upon seeing the flash of pain and frustration passing over his friend's face, Josh put his hand on Kirk's arm.

"Oh, that was rude," Josh said, "I apologize Kirk, sorry."

"No worries Josh," Kirk said, leaning forward, putting his head into his hands, frustrated. Josh was a random encounter, an unexpected ship passing in the night. Josh would leave, and Kirk would be back to where he was before.

"Let's go eat," Josh suggested. "Come on Kirk."

Kirk rose, and started walking toward the homeless shelter, they could both wait in line and talk about old times.