Firm Ground by Sarnia de la Maré FRSA
Muhammad was taking a late morning stroll in St.James’s Park when he bumped into Jesus.
‘Ah, long time no see,’ exclaimed Jesus excitedly, moving in for one of his over the top man hugs.
‘You’re looking good,’ said Muhammad, ‘love the beard.’
‘Ha,’ said Jesus, I was just admiring yours there too.’
Muhammed and Jesus sit together on a park bench to eat their lunch.
‘What’s in yours,’ asked Muhammed, eyeing up a rather exotic looking triple sandwich from the deli round the corner.
‘Mate,’ said Jesus, ‘this is the best, vegan as well,’ passing a generous chunk to his friend.
‘So how you finding things?’ asked Jesus.
‘Well,’ said Muhammad licking his lips of the best sauce he had tasted in the last thousand years….
‘It’s hard here, people have so little faith.’
‘In you?’ asked Jesus.
‘No, no,’ answered Muhammad, ‘in themselves.’
‘Oh that old chestnut,’ said Jesus. ‘Yeah it’s a real stumbling block.’
The two friends finish their lunch watching the activity in the park. The dog walkers’ conviviality abounds in a gentle and reassuring midday sun. High flying birds sing of life’s simple pleasures as a pigeon eats the crumbs from the firm ground by Jesus' feet.
‘Well, best get on,’ said Jesus, ‘they are all fighting again.’
‘Oh tell me about it,’ said Muhammad, ‘I've been on overtime since I can remember.’
©2023 Sarnia de la Maré FRSA
