Spending time in this place away from Ellis and buildings has been a wise decision. My emotions have been quelled and my mind has been rejuvenated by healing waters. I feel I am recovering from the despicable way in which I was living previously. I am able to write again. I suffer no longer from the case of letha logica, the words now come beautifully!
But I digress. This is mere façade. I am no writer. I fear that the young Ellis now knows this. This was mere tomfoolery to ensure that Ellis and (I further digress) you the reader were not aware of my failings. Whether this was worthwhile or not I am unsure. Though I assure you I am who I say I am. I am the Australian thinker, Flip.
I decided today that I would continue to live with Comet. Poco was not going anywhere and neither was my apartment. Life here was more serene. The chance to be a travelling man was oh too tempting! I severed the rope holding the Comet to the dock. But with no fuel, the boat did not gently move. It did not move at all. Luckily Ramon had left some canisters of gasoline close by. The boat was obviously in storage as the tank was empty. I poured the canister into the tank hoping for some sort of life. With an attempted ignition of the engine, the boat remained stationery. The engine roared into force and then purred like a kitten. While I moved my hands over the engine, I heard footsteps. Small footsteps. Whoever they were they were walking casually. They became louder and louder until they were outside the boat. Inquisitively I twitched my ears.
Was it Ramon come back to his boat to get his harmonica? Was it Martin to take me on another journey? No. It was Ellis. The main observer, onlooker and analyst of this journal you now read. He was unusually dressed with a button down shirt and plain pair of jeans. His hair was not combed. I looked into his thick black glasses as he began to stop outside. I couldn’t see his eyes. The footsteps stopped. He looked at me. I looked away and pretended to be busy filling the canister I had just emptied. Silence.
I mustered up some of that new found adrenalin and inquired as to why he had blessed me with his presence. He solemnly questioned me.
Perhaps this Ellis was not as wise as I had once thought. Perhaps he was even wiser. Maybe I was not wise enough to understand his new motives. He had found me based on this online journal. He had recognised the photos of the beach and of Comet. Perhaps his study was completed. Ellis monotonously blurted “I know where Ramon is if you would be interested in meeting him” I began cleaning the canister under the sink. I did not speak. He told me he had found the man at a jazz tribute show. Ellis had met the band members afterwards. It stifled me, my father, in his 70s was now in a jazz band.
I remember the words I said exactly, “You must have told him you know me. Doesn’t that void some sort of confidentiality clause.” It was rhetorical.
“Your squatting within his property, I’d be more worried of you breaching trespass”
I told Ellis I was not going to debate legality. Though I was not angry. I was calm and diplomatic.
Ellis cleared his throat and told me his thoughts; “I analysed your writings and well Mr Flip, there’s nothing wrong with you. Just some anxiousness and stress within yourself. I would advise you that some confidence issues and issues of integrity should be addressed…”
I told Ellis I was not ready to meet with Ramon and no longer cared of what judgement either of them had. I thanked him for his suggestion of using an online journal. I told him what he wanted to hear; I had purged myself through changing my living. I politely told Ellis to leave.
Before he left he reached into his pocket and revealed a small red apple. He threw it to me. My hands were free and caught it mid air. He told me I was ready to peel my own skin now. Slowly and carefully he lifted his legs off the boat and was soon gone. It would seem that young Ellis was far too brash. Though all is redeemed with this gentleman. There remains no bittersweet emotions.
I think I’ll eat inside tonight.
Yours etc
Flip
