Opa Johan's Interview

         Opa Johan’s Interview

“How pleasing to visit Cibodas Botanical Garden. Yet more delightful – a sweet present -, just guess, … “ he said to his wife, “is to meet and be interviewed by a young girl university student in the Botanical Garden in Bogor.”

“Yet, when I forced myself to leave, we both seemed to be sad to part, having shared our deeper thoughts and inner feelings more than is common in an interview, though I didn’t conceal my worn, faded cloths, shoes and my old appearance from her.”

“‘May I know your name?’ she asked. ‘I am Rachmi.’ she said without being asked.”

“Oh, I don’t want to take advantage of my seniority. She just may like, respect me. How could I not love her? Moreover, there’s no honor, as you never could know if I were unfaithful, for that would be the same as cheating someone who’s blind. Aren’t you proud of such a husband?” And he whispered: “Being still capable of loving and … I’d only cheat you with your eyes open. Ha. ha. ha. What do you say?”

“You’re impossible.” said his wife as he kissed her.

And I wondered. What’s a happy marriage without storms, temptations, wars? This is Beauty and The Old Man. “You’re never too old to be young” said the song. A dear memory, for him, who’s almost four times as old as she.

  

October 2007

March 2011