The Last Post
This is a
story about a Southern gentleman and an Eastern gentleman. They
were making a trip, though neither knew the other. They left a
token of remembrance at the place they met. The Southern gent had
the least to travel, and the Eastern gent the most. The Eastern
gent started first. The Eastern gent looked at five different ways
to travel, By Plane, Train, Boat, Car and Bus. Ultimately he chose
the first, being the fastest way to travel.
The Southern
gent, he only considered two different forms of transport, By Bus
and Car. He was up early with the sun and left his home bright an
early at 7am in the morning. It was a
wonderful morning with the sun shining brightly and the air cool
and crisp. A great day for a drive and a great day for an
adventure, though the Southern gent had no idea of what was ahead.
He switched on his GPS, typed in his destination and left his home
and its worries behind.
Meanwhile, the
Eastern gent had left on his journey. He had semi retired at the
age of 59, and decided to spend the early years of retirement
flying a Cessna around the country. After a thorough pre-flight
inspection the Eastern gent fired up the continental engine and
took off into the azure sky, leaving the earth and its worries
behind.
The Southern
gent was enjoying his drive through the country, with fields
stretching out as far as the eye could see, with cattle gently
grazing in the early morning sun. The Southern gent noticed a small
change in sound, a change in tempo, almost a hiccup on the
mornings breath. The suddenly the car
lurched and coughed. Then coughed again.
Then stopped. A glance at the fuel gage
indicated the problem. He was too busy enjoying the view to notice
he had run out of fuel. A quick glance at the GPS indicated a small
town only 3kms away. The Southern gent grabbed his duffle bag from
the boot, released the GPS from its cradle, locked his stranded car
and started walking down the dusty road.
After a time
the Southern gent arrived at a small town. Seeing a corner store
open he enquired to where he could get some fuel.
“Nah, mate. Not
ona Sunday.
Yer’ll be
‘ard pushed to get any
t’day. Best
t’get over the station an’ get the
train up t’the city mate.” Was the
advice he was given. Four minutes later he was on the train,
catching his breath after a quick run to catch it. Whilst watching
the landscape pass his window he decided he would leave his car for
the day and complete his journey by train. He’d get the fuel on his
way back during the week. Soon he had nodded off and was quietly
snoring as the train rattled its way towards its
destination.
He awoke with
a start, took a moment to clear his head.
‘Wh
-where am I?’ he thought. Then it came back.
Car, no fuel, walking, running for the
train. A voice interrupted his thoughts “Ladies and
Gentlemen, Next stop Airport station. This is the final stop for
this station. All passengers please ensure all your luggage is
taken with you as you disembark.”
“Oh no” he
groaned. He had slept through his stop. Picking up his bag he left
the carriage and went in search of a time table. He read the board
with dismay. The next train back to the city was still 94 minutes
away. “Only one thing for it” he said to himself as he headed
towards the airport terminal in search of a coffee and the Sunday
paper.
“Hi, Can I
help you please”
“Yes please, I
would like a Latte and the Sunday paper thanks.”
“How has your
day been?” she asked as she started making his coffee.
“Well….” He
started and related the morning’s events.
“Excuse me”
said a gentleman in the queue behind “Where is it you are
heading?”
The Southern
gent told the stranger of his destination.
“Well, by
coincidence I am travelling there myself” said the stranger. “And I
would be happy for you to come with me.”
And this is
how the Southern gent and the Eastern gent met.
“Well let me
buy you a coffee kind sir” said the Southern gent, and before long
they were seated overlooking the flight line telling stories of
their past. The Eastern gent told of how he had retired and was
spending the next 4-6 months flying around the country and as part
of this he was retracing the steps of an early postal service, and
how he had 5 stops left and how the ‘last post’ was the same
destination of the Southern gent.
Before long
the coffees had emptied as the friendship filled, the pair walked
out to the Cessna and took off into the early afternoon, leaving
the earth and its worries behind. When they had arrived at their
destination the decided on meeting up the following day for a
picnic lunch and leave a token of their friendship at the last
post.
And that is
where you will find the Cache.