A Fool's Errand

The old man walked the road every morning with his dog to get a newspaper and a coffee from the local farm-store.

The younger man drove by every day, and waved. This was the extent of their friendship.

Every morning that the young man worked, each going in the opposite direction, they would cross each other's path, and smile. Content that each other was well.

Then the man's dog was hit by a car. The old man grew sick, he no longer had a purpose to walk to the store every morning. He drove instead.

The younger man drove by every day, and wondered. This was the extent of his knowledge.

Every morning through that winter the old man missed his pet, and the younger man watched the icy road. Neither saw hope.

Then in the Spring after the snow had melted, the younger man found a lost puppy on the side of the road. He carried the dog in his lap, as he drove to work.

He saw the old man at the store, and stopped, he delivered to him a new reason to walk to the store every morning. Now he sees him walking everyday. They wave and smile that each other is well.

This is the extent of their friendship.