Your Own Path

The heat hit in a double blow, the sun relentlessly beating down and then reflecting off the marble paving of the square. Mary sat in a café sipping iced coffee. Despite the shade of the awning, her clothes were damp with sweat. She glanced at her watch. Time to go back to her Airbnb for a siesta. It was approaching the hour when only mad dogs, Englishmen and foreign tourists were out and about. She was slowly adjusting to the rhythms of Greek life after taking the plunge to get out of her comfort zone and come to Greece by herself, much to the consternation of her family and friends.

“Dad would have been worried sick,” said her daughter Daphne.

“How are we supposed to find you if anything goes wrong?” said her son Todd.

“By yourself?” said her friend Angie. “Wouldn’t it be better to go on one of those senior tours where they arrange everything for you?”

“Delphine, your father is no longer here. I miss him dearly, but life goes on. Todd, I am going to Greece, not crossing the Sahara on a camel. There are ways to communicate, should you choose to use them. You know… Facebook, Whatsapp, phones. Angie, becoming a widow does not mean I have lost my faculties. I don’t yet need to be herded around like a tourist sheep by guides.”

“I think you’re being very selfish,” Daphne said, dabbing at her eyes. Mary marveled at her daughter’s ability to cry without smudging her makeup, a talent she herself had never possessed.

“No need to be sarcastic,” Todd said huffily. “I keep in touch when I can. I’m busy, you know.” Mary bit her lip to avoid making sarcastic comments about nightlife and hangovers.

“I suppose that means we’ll have to find a fourth for tennis,” said Angie, frowning. “Have you asked around to find a sub?”

Mary took a deep breath.

“I’m sorry. I want some me time, as they say. I am tired. Bone tired. For once, I am going to do what I want. You are all perfectly capable of managing without me for a while.”

Recalling the conversation, she wondered why she had apologized.

“When did sorry become my default setting?" she said to herself. “Before I was a wife, a mother, a widow, I was somebody. Who am I?”

Realizing she had spoken aloud, she glanced around, embarrassed and relieved that no one was paying attention. At that moment, a large group of tourists of about her own age appeared in the square following a guide holding a sign. Mary stared. They wore lanyards and were shuffling along in silence, eyes ahead, as if they were in a procession. With relief she noticed they were all listening to audio devices and not in a trance.

“And that’s what Angie thought would be fun,” she muttered as she stood up, shaking her head. She paid for her coffee and left, still amused. As she turned down the street leading to her Airbnb, a portly grey-haired man rushed around the corner, knocking her over.

“I am so sorry,” he said breathlessly. “Please allow me to help you up. Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine,” said Mary, scrambling to her feet and dusting herself off. “Are you okay? It's not good to rush around in this heat.”

His face was scarlet and he was sweating profusely.

“I know,” he said. “But I’ve lost my group. They gave us these gizmos to listen to while we were walking round the old town. Mine quit working and by the time I got it going again, and looked up, they were gone. Then I must have taken a wrong turn. What am I going to do? The boat that takes us back to the ship might leave without me.”

He looked as if he was on the verge of tears. Mary realized that he was wearing the same lanyard as the tourist group she had seen.

“Let’s go back to the square and sit down in the café. You’ll feel better after you have a cold drink. Do you have phone numbers for anyone in your group?”

“I don’t know. I mean, I don’t know if my phone works over here. Probably no one would hear their phones ring anyway. They’re all glued to those listening things. I knew this trip was a bad idea, but no one listens to me.”

“Come with me,” Mary said, taking him by the arm as he seemed on the point of hyperventilating. She turned him in the direction of the cafe.

“My name is Mary. What’s your name?”

“Oh, er, I completely forgot my manners,” he said. “I’m Jeff. From Muncie, Indiana. Pleased to meet you.”

Yiannis, the waiter, looked up in surprise from the table he was wiping as Mary led Jeff into the café.

“Miss Mary? Back again so soon. What happened?”

Mary explained the situation as she led Jeff to the shadiest table.

“Ah, not to worry,” Yiannis said. “That tour always comes back this way. They find you soon. You have a drink and relax.”

“You know these people?” Jeff said as he subsided onto a chair.

“I’ve been here for two months now,” Mary said, smiling. “I’m a regular in this café.”

“What I bring you?” Yiannis enquired. “Ice coffee?”

“No, a nice white wine, please,” said Mary. “What will you have, Jeff?”

“Coffee…no, wait. Why don’t I have a wine too?”

“Of course. You are on holiday and you are in Greece,” Yiannis said, laughing as he headed towards the kitchen. He returned a few moments later with the wine and a plate of snacks.

“Yia mas!’ Mary said. “Cheers!”

“Cheers,” said Jeff, cautiously sipping. “Very good.”

He sighed with pleasure as he took in the view of the old buildings around the square and inhaled the scent of the flowers around them.

“This is much better than getting traipsed around like a forced march. Tell me how you came to be here.”

“I was widowed a few months ago,” Mary said, gazing into her glass. “Not unexpected, but still a shock. We were married for forty years. I just needed a change of scenery. Losing Doug was a wake-up call. He was a homebody and I went along with that. But I’ve always wanted to travel, and I decided it was now or never.”

“I’m widowed too, a couple of years ago now,” Jeff said. “I miss Irene terribly, but I had to travel constantly for work, so I’m content to stay at home. Not that I’m a hermit or anything. I have friends, but my family can't seem to believe me when I say I'm fine with a quiet life. They gave me this trip. Kept nagging me and telling me I needed to get out and meet people. I didn’t want to hurt their feelings, but I’d rather be at home in my garden. This cruise isn’t my cup of tea at all. You can’t sit down and relax. If they’re not hounding you to go on excursions, they’re making you watch shows, or take classes and I don’t know what-all.”

He smiled deprecatingly.

“Listen to me whine. First world problems.”

Yiannis appeared with more wine. Jeff eagerly held out his glass.

“Two things can be true at once,” Mary said. “Yes, you are very fortunate and yes, you are entitled to dislike organized holidays that you didn’t want to go on in the first place.”

“I suppose I'm a people-pleaser as far as my family goes,” said Jeff with a sigh. “I was known as a terror in the boardroom but can't stand up for myself at home since I lost Irene. My children seem to think they know what's best for me.”

“They mean well,” said Mary. “Mine did too. They got all bent out of shape when I decided to travel. They were genuinely concerned, but they were also used to taking me for granted. It threw them for a loop. Oh, look. Here comes your group.”

The guide rushed up to them, looking stressed. Her flock straggled behind, glancing wistfully at the comfortable chairs.

“ Jeff, we've been so worried about you."

“Sorry about that, Helen,” Jeff said. “I got lost, but this kind lady rescued me. I won’t stray again. Apologies for causing anxiety."

He drained his glass, and pushed himself out of his seat. He turned to bid Mary goodbye and started to laugh. Most of the group were now seated and fanning themselves with relief. Yiannis was hurrying around distributing menus.

"Helen, I think there's been a change in the itinerary. Please sit down and allow me to buy you a drink to make up for the inconvenience I've caused."

The guide glanced around and clutched her head in frustration. Then she laughed.

"We had to cut the walk short to find you, so we might as well enjoy the extra time. I'll take you up on that offer, Jeff," she said. "It's been a trying day."

Time passed pleasantly until Helen finally glanced at her watch.

"Okay, guys," she said, standing up and raising her sign. "We really have to go now. Please stay with the group."

She mock glared at Jeff, who bowed.

"Lesson learned," he said, grinning. "Have no fear. I will stick like glue."

He turned to Mary and saluted.

“I’ll be back some day on my own time. Safe travels, Mary.”

“You too,” she said, smiling. “Don’t let them talk you off your own path, Jeff.”

He winked as he dutifully trekked off with the others.