The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

moment, he moved to the other toilet, but there he faced a different problem. Evidently he didn’t want to be parted from his big grey suitcase on wheels, but the cubicle was simply too small for the two of them. It seemed to Allan that the young man would either have to leave the suitcase outside while he relieved himself, or allow the suitcase to occupy the cubicle while he himself remained outside.
    But Allan had more pressing concerns. Making an effort to move his legs in the right sequence, he shuffled with small steps up to the little man in the open ticket window and enquired as to the possibility of public transport in some direction, any at all would do, within the next few minutes, and if so, what would it cost?
    The little man looked tired. He had probably lost track of things halfway through Allan’s enquiry, because after a few seconds, he said:
    ‘And where is it you want to go?’
    Allan took a deep breath, and reminded the little man that he had already stated that the actual destination, and for thatmatter the means of transport, were of less importance than a) the time of departure, and b) the cost.
    The little man silently inspected his timetables and let Allan’s words sink in.
    ‘Bus number 202 departs for Strängnäs in three minutes. Would that work?’
    Yes, Allan thought it would. The little man told him that the bus left from outside the terminal door and that it would be most convenient to buy a ticket directly from the driver.
    Allan wondered what the little man did behind the window if he didn’t sell tickets, but he didn’t say anything. The little man possibly wondered the same thing. Allan thanked him for his help and tried to tip the hat he had in his haste not brought along.
    The hundred-year-old man sat down on one of the two empty benches, alone with his thoughts. The wretched birthday party at the home would start at three o’clock, and that was in twelve minutes. At any moment they would be banging on the door to his room, and then all hell would break loose. He smiled at the thought.
    Then, out of the corner of his eye, Allan saw that somebody was approaching. It was the slightly built young man heading straight for Allan with his big suitcase trailing behind him on four small wheels. Allan realised that he might not be able to avoid engaging the long-haired youth in conversation. Perhaps that wasn’t so bad. He might gain insight into what today’s young people thought about this and that.
    A conversation did take place, but without the depth of social analysis Allan had anticipated. The young man came to a halt a few yards away, seemed to study the old man for a moment, and then said:
    ‘Hey.’
    Allan replied in a friendly tone, saying that he wished him a good afternoon, and then asked him if there was some way hecould be of service. It turned out that there was. The young man wanted Allan to keep an eye on the suitcase while he relieved himself. Or as he expressed it:
    ‘I need to take a dump.’
    Allan replied that, although he was old and decrepit, his eyesight was still in good repair and it did not sound like too arduous a task to keep an eye on the young man’s suitcase. He did recommend that the young man relieve himself with some urgency – without, of course, using the young man’s own terminology – as Allan had a bus to catch.
    The young man did not hear the last bit. His urgent need drove him towards the toilet before Allan had finished speaking.
    The hundred-year-old man had never let himself be irritated by people, even when there was a good reason to be, and he was not annoyed by the uncouth manner of this youth. But he couldn’t warm to him either, and that probably played some part in what happened next.
    Bus number 202 rolled up outside the entrance to the terminal, just a few seconds after the young man had closed the toilet door behind him. Allan looked at the bus and then at the suitcase, then again at the bus and then again at the suitcase.
    It has wheels, he said to himself. And there’s a strap to pull it by too.
    And then Allan surprised himself by making what – you have to admit – was a decision to say ‘yes’ to life.
    The bus driver was conscientious and polite. He stepped down and helped the very old man with the big suitcase to get on the bus.
    Allan thanked him and pulled out his wallet from the inside pocket of his jacket. The bus driver wondered if the gentleman was possibly going all the way to Strängnäs, while