The Girl Who Learned To Kneel

A young guy looks up and says sort of to me, sort of to anyone:

“Do you know where Dresden is?”

“Ah…no,” I reply.

He turns to the old man across from where he’s sitting.

“Do you know where Dresden is? Dresden?”

“What?” he yells. The old man can’t make out what’s being asked.

“Do you know where Dresden is?” the young guy repeats. “145,000 people were massacred there in 1945…”

The old man just shakes his head.

The young guy walks away, presumably to locate Dresden.

The old man turns to the guy beside him. He also happens to be very old.

“I’m 96. How old are you?”

“I’m 94.”

Pause.

“We’ve seen a lot of things, haven’t we,” 94 continues. “What do you think of what’s going on now?”

They start chatting about politics. 94 believes McCain is a man of character and that’s important. 96 points out the tumor that has just popped up in his mouth. Now he needs radiation.

“Where were you born? Where?” shouts 94.

“Massachusetts.”

“You?”

“Brooklyn, New York.

“Where?”

“Brooklyn, New York.”

Now they talk bridges and canals. Every once in a while one of them leans in with his good ear and yells, “What?”

The young guy reappears. With a map. He shows me Dresden.

A woman appears to escort 96 away. She helps him up. Her uncle.

94 has one more question: “Do you love the Lord Jesus?”

“What? I didn’t catch that,” says 96. The woman marches him away before the conversion can go any futher.

94 is not fazed. He just wanted to know. “First time I come across a guy older than me. Very refreshing. I like him. 96…Wow!” He mutters.

Young guy is also muttering: “145,000 people were massacred…I mean 135,000…in 1945…that’s a lot of people…” He looks right at me, demanding a response.

“That is a lot of people,” I say.

“How old are you?” 94 suddenly asks the young guy.

“25!”

“That’s a good age.”

And they’re off. 25 moves over to be closer to 94. He looks at me apologetically. I’m not quite what he was looking for. He’s been looking for 94. All morning. Someone who will talk about Dresden…

They’re fast friends. 94 and 25. Companionship in this moment. Dresden, Kurt Vonnegut…then Russia…Hitler…World War II…sea planes…Catalinas. 94 put a lot of hours into those planes. 25 drinks it all in. They open 94′s Bible and read Ezekiel 38, a sign of an impending World War III…

Preggo mama across the way free to witness…and tune out.

After a while all she can hear are soft murmurs.

The rumblings of camaraderie. Grace.