Social obligation Essay Example for Free

Social obligation set slightlyFred was sitting in his usual spot, with his java piping its guidance up his nose. Yet today there were other things on his aging mind. His blind eyes pierced the darkness before him amidst the meaningless verbalize around him. He knew the people around him were talking, and he knew that it was when the voices were hushedtransformed to a whispers, that they were talking about him. He trusted those around him despite the k at presentledge that he was really rather a hinderance on society. His experience of people had told him he would be this way and his mind drifted to the very day he realized what life was about.He remembered the day it happened. He remembered most of all because he had chosen to bag this memory close. The streets had been quiet and heavy with the smell of spring rains and he could hear the slow drip of ruination as it coursed its way off of roof-tops and gutters onto the rising mist of the pavement. The man sat with his l egs stretched out on the newspapers and composition board on the hard concrete. Pennies for the old man. He drawled through his spittle stained mouth. Fred shivered and walked on. I know who you are. yelled the man after him through a gurgled laugh.Fred cringed deeply, hating the uselessness and hopelessness of the man who took the role of his alter-ego. Yes, that ego he nurtured so close to his puffed up breast. He continued walking towards the park, where he proposed to write a new song for his ever-growing repertoire. His daughter was participating in a play that day, still he detested the formalities of everyday life and particularly the things that were expected of his. Social obligation. There had been something in the mockery of the street-mans voice that seems to worm its way into his preoccupied brain.I know who you are he repeated to himself, sneer at the arrogance of a man who had amounted to nothingreally. On his way back from the park, he panorama of possible way s he could avoid walking past tense the menacing man. No, there was no way out and he shrunk into his designer everyplacecoat, pulling his Al Capone hat over his eyes. That wouldnt work either, he always wore it. The man was still there, apparently sleeping. Fred tiptoed past, holding his breath until he thought he was past the threat.He let out a deep breathrolling his eyes back in relief. He heard a cackle and thought he was imaging it, perhaps his artistic positive imagination had gotten the better of him. Dont wanna see me do you? said the gravelly voice. The sun was orbit and the steam still rose form the grey pavement as Fred peered down at it. He suddenly felt awfully small. Maybe he should just talk to the man and get it over with he was thinking when the voice replied, Yeah, just talk to the old man and get it over withwho knows, it could be you one day. He shrunk a few inches more and turned to swagger back to the emaciated body. allow me buy us coffee first. Fred offered grudgingly. I just loooove coffee, shrieked the voice, provided good Brazilian coffee please, none of this fake stuff Well, Fred thought, take the arm. The two misfits were sitting on the pavement in silence, sipping the hot life-giving liquid. At length Fred began to wonder, So how did you come to be here? The man sighed, a wet tuberculosis riddled sigh. Wellmy gravel was a surgeon and my mothershe never had to work.My father never had much time for me but I had all I could want. The sky was falling again, but Fred was enjoying the feeling of rain on his Carducci slacks. I studied and became a lawyer, got married and children and got divorced. Losing my family made me lose reliance in being accomplished at anything. I just let it all godrank it away. mat up it was easier to just live on the streets and have no one to answer to, no one placate. It was easy, but lonely. I got in a fight on the streets and had my eyes gouged out. Now I see more than I ever used to. Fred began to feel uncomfortable, but there was something he needed to ask. Do you never miss your family, childrenfriends. The man gurgled again, smiling a gapped smile, the teeth that remained, clawing into the heart of the viewer. Nah, I have more friends now than I ever did. These friends care about me out of pity, the others cared about me for what they could get out of me. Fred looked out at the empty streets and sidewalksthinking of the man he walked past everyday with ever having really understood why he was there