Trust and Consequences

A short story from my real experiences during my time living in Leiden during the '90s.

Trust and Consequence

 

One experience which sometimes comes to mind, occurred during a time when I lived in a city called Leiden during the late ’90s.  It is an old city in North Holland, East of The Hague, and South of Amsterdam.  Its centre is surrounded by a moat which was once an important part of its defences, especially during the long war with the Spanish.  Crossing this moat are various bridges with gates to and from the old walled city.  I lived in a section outside called ‘De Kooi’.  I would often walk to the centre, crossing the bridge and entering the ‘Oosterpoort’ (the Eastern Gate).  One Saturday afternoon I was returning home after my time of wandering .  I passed through the gate in the old wall and was about to cross the bridge.  Ahead of me were two men and a dog padding ahead of them.  Their dog was happy and alert, probably because it  had a large stick in it’s mouth.   Further ahead of them all was an innocent cyclist who was riding towards us, on our left side.  I’ve very specifically chosen the word innocent to indicate that he was about to become one of the victims in this little anecdote.  Both him and the dog.  So the cyclist is riding closer, and the dog is getting closer.  Suddenly the owner of the dog shouts out a warning to be careful with the approaching rider. Upon hearing this urgent order the dog turns it’s head around, back to his human.  Remember the stick?  Well in this perfectly timed moment it has now become jammed between the spokes of the cyclists front wheel.  Exactly what the owner wanted to avoid, of course.  At my safe distance behind them all (an important place for all good witnesses and observers, for if the story is to survive beyond them, their safety is paramount) I both cringed and smiled as the cyclist fell head over heels off his bike.  The dog yelped as it’s beloved stick was suddenly yanked from its jaw, as its owner angrily shouted  at it from behind.  I knew in that instant that this unfortunate event could have been easily avoided.  If only the owner had not warned the dog.   I realised that he’d forgotten one essential fact which all owners aught to know about their dogs; they always know the length of their stick.

The fact that I was present and that this little event often comes to mind tells me that I’m being invited to learn something from it.  For what trouble could I have avoided in my life if only I’d trusted myself and not acted out of fear?

Reviews

[Lara]

This piece tells how the most happenstance occasion can underlying profound and fortuitous allegories.
So much to learn right before our very eyes. And stories told...

This was a funny story. I laughed. And well captured with this write, Paul.
I like it.

[Paul Michael Kelly]

Thanks for your kind review