As Lewis Charles and his wife were waiting at the bus stop, a tall smartly dressed, slightly stooping gentleman approached. When about four yards away he noticed Lewis and stopped with raised eyebrows and mouth slightly agape.
“Good Lord!” he exclaimed. “Do my beady old eyes deceive me? Is it or isn’t it? It surely is. It must be goodness knows how long. How are you, old chap? I must say you’re looking well.”
“I’m tolerably well, thank you,” said Lewis. “All things considered. You’re looking pretty fit yourself.”
“I’ve been a little up and down, but I can’t complain. It’s been a pretty good life. But, I say, after all these years!”
“It must be at least that long, probably more. I lose track of time and my memory is not what it was. At least I don’t think it is. I can’t remember.”
“I like it. But you were always one for a joke as I recall. At least I think I do. I can’t remember.” The stranger laughed uproariously at his repetition of Lewis’ joke.
“Do you know who I bumped into the other day? Old what’s-his-name. Used to drive a battered old whatsit.”
“How was he?” asked Lewis.
“Oh, you know him. He was your friend more than mine. He never changes. Do you know who he told me about?”
“I don’t believe I do” returned Lewis.
“Old so and so. You remember. Always wore his hat askew. Glasses, moustache.”
“And how was he?”
“Not too good and yet he was the fittest of us all. Captain of this, first choice for that. Won anything worth winning.”
“Indeed he did.”
“Well it’s been grand meeting you but I must fly. We should have a drink sometime. See if we could round up some of the chaps.”
“Yes we must. That would be grand.”
As the stranger hurried away, Lewis’ wife asked him, “Who was that?”
“No idea. Never seen him before.”
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