Fred and Ollie shared the same hospital room.
They were both very ill.
Fred was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour
a day to drain the fluids from his lungs.
His bed was next to the room's only window.
a day to drain the fluids from his lungs.
His bed was next to the room's only window.
Ollie had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours on end.
They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, their favorite vacations, and practically everything under the sun.
Every afternoon, whenever Fred could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
Ollie lived for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the outside world.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake, Fred would say. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats.
Lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
Ollie listened.
Ollie listened.
As Fred looked out of the window and described everything he saw in exquisite detail, Ollie who was on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon, Fred described a parade that was passing by.
Ollie could not hear the band.
However, he could see it in his mind, as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
However, he could see it in his mind, as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
An alien thought entered his head:
Why should Fred have all the pleasure of seeing everything while I never get to see anything?
It didn't seem fair.
As the thought fermented, Ollie felt ashamed.
It didn't seem fair.
As the thought fermented, Ollie felt ashamed.
As the days passed, Ollie found his envy eroding into resentment and turning him into a bitter man.
He began to brood and found himself unable to sleep.
He began to brood and found himself unable to sleep.
He should be by that window - and that thought now controlled his life.
Late one night, as Ollie lay staring at the ceiling,
he heard Fred began to cough.
he heard Fred began to cough.
Fred was choking on the fluid in his lungs.
Ollie watched in the dimly lit room as Fred struggled
by the window and groped for the button to call for help.
by the window and groped for the button to call for help.
Listening from across the room, Ollie did not moved.
He chose not to push his own button which would have brought the nurse running.
He chose not to push his own button which would have brought the nurse running.
In less than five minutes, the coughing and choking stopped, along with the sound of breathing.
Now, there was only silence ... deathly silence.
The following morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths.
When she found the lifeless body of the man by the window, she was saddened. She called the hospital attendant to take the body away ...
No words, no fuss ...
No words, no fuss ...
As soon as it seemed appropriate, Ollie asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly and painfully, Ollie propped himself up on one
elbow to take his first look.
Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it all himself.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window
beside the bed ...
beside the bed ...
Alas ...
It faced a blank wall.
It faced a blank wall.
The moral of the story:
The pursuit of happiness is a matter of choice.
a silent thot ...
by lynn phua
