Writing prompt: You are often in the park, and there’s this old man sitting on the same bench every time. He has some interesting stories to tell, but only after he died you learn his secret: He was a retired crime boss, and he left you a fortune.

He was just an old man who sat on the same bench in the park, day after day. The only times when he wasn’t there were when it was raining and then he simply moved to the cafe to drink a hot coffee and nibble on a pastry and watch the rain.

It took me a long time to start a conversation with him. I didn’t want to disturb him as he was spending time relaxing but on one of my walks, I got a stitch and had to sit down and his bench was there.

“Sorry if I am disturbing you, but can I sit here while this stitch goes away?”

“Yes, you may.” he replied as he slowly turned his head to look at me. “You shouldn’t be pushing yourself too much to get a muscle cramp. Pace yourself and you will get to where you want to go.”

“Yeah. I was in a bit of a rush this morning and pushed myself too hard. And I am paying for it now. I see you here all the time when it isn’t raining. Is it relaxing for you or do you just like the view?”

“A bit of both, young man. I find that sitting here watching people pass by is relaxing and the view over the park and the trees and grass fields is a lovely thing to look at. And even when it rains, I look at the life giving rain coming down on the park in it’s beauty.”

“I know what you mean. I don’t sit around as I need the exercise but the beauty here is always great to see. The families and people who walk here enjoy it as well. And then on the week ends the kids playing on the fields bring their laughter and joy to the world.”

“Yes. That laughter makes things a lot better. Excuse my forgetfulness, my name is Sal.”

“Ryan, sir. Nice to meet you Sal. It looks like rain is coming in soon so do you want to go get a couple seats in the cafe for a coffee or hot chocolate? If he start walking there now we should be able to get good seats to walk it rain.”

“That would be very nice Ryan. Thank you.”

And that is how it started. I didn’t sit and talk with Sal every day, but every time I ran or walked passed him, I said hello. Or invited him for a hot drink. And those times I did sit with him, we had nice relaxing talks about life, events and what might be happening in my future.

He was a bit reticent about his past and what is going on in his life but I knew that he was someone with a colorful past because of some of the stories he told and events he saw. I could also feel that he had a lot of regrets in his life but he accepted them, he didn’t let them ruin or control the rest of his life.

I felt like he was telling me a lot of life lessons that he went through hardships to learn. Passing down a life time of wisdom to a youngster and I tried to remember what he said and what he meant. I don’t know if I got all of it, but some of what he said has stayed with me in my life.

The one thing I learnt from Sal, is that family is everything. He emphasized that when we were talking about my family and how the only ones I had left were my younger sister and an aunt on my mother’s side. My parents had been lost when a drunk driver decided he was capable of driving in the rain. He wasn’t.

My anger at the driver was still there even years later but Sal helped me to see how that anger could drive my life and I had to let it go, but never forget what happened. It was difficult to understand how to do that but Sal guided me to do so.

I spent a lot of time talking to Sal in those three years I knew him. But he was an old man and he was sick. I didn’t know how sick he was until almost the last, when he asked me to sit by him one day as he had something to tell me.

“Ryan, I am sorry to be doing this now but soon I will not be here any more. My doctors have done all they could, but it is no longer enough and soon I will have to go to the hospital for the last time. No, no, don’t get upset boy. I have had a full life and my family know and have had to accept this as you will have to as well. I will miss our talks and they have made an old man’s final years a joy. You are much more than you think of yourself and you need to remember that when the sadness comes over you.”

He looked out at the park and the people there. “I will miss this and I will miss our talks. When I am hone, there will be someone coming to talk to you. A lawyer, much as I hate them, they have their uses. I want to ask you to do a couple things for me boy. Will you listen to my selfish requests?”

“Of course Sal. I want to say anything for you but I remember your lessons about agreeing to anything.”

“Haha. Very good boy. I am glad to see that some of my wisdom did stick. But seriously. I know you have been very lonely, even with your sister and aunt around, you still are lonely and scared of getting close to others. I saw that early on boy and I ask a very selfish request of you. Find someone to love. I don’t care if it is a girl or even a boy, but find someone to share your life with.”

“Sal! You know I’m not gay. You have seen me perving on the women who jog past us. Hell I’ve seen you watching them as well you dirty old man.”

“Hahaha. Yes Ryan. I know so I will let you go with this final bit of advice. Never lose sight of the joy you find in the world. It took me a long time to remember that, and I don’t want you to have the same problem.”

“Okay Sal. It may be difficult at times but I will remember that and all the rest you have taught me.” With that, I reach out and gave him a hug. Sal was shocked but not as shocked as what I said next. “I will remember it grandfather. Thank you.”

At this I got up and started walking away. The tears on my cheeks were from the dust, yeah the dust.

I heard a quiet “Good bye grandson” from behind me. It wasn’t the last time I saw Sal but it was the last time he was on his bench.

I found out which hospital he was in and a week later I was able to visit.

When I was able to get permission to enter his room, I was shocked at how much he had deteriorated in the week since I had last seen him. His face was sunk in and he looked frail. He didn’t look like the hearty, strong man I had known.

His voice was weak but it was still Sal. “Hey boy. I don’t look too good do I?” he asked me.

“No, no you don’t look good. You were that bad hey Sal?”

“Yeah. The docs did all they could but the pain medicine was no longer working as well as it did and now I need the really strong stuff just to get through the night. It won’t be long now.”