"I fear something." he said with an English accent while a little bit intoxicated.
"what do you fear?" one friend(Friend A) asked.
"I fear that all my companions, that includes you two, have no idea of the nonchalant, English man that lies deep within the mask I wear on sober days." he replied in a fluent monotonous tone.
"Okay okay" trying to understand, another friend (Friend B) added, "what you saying is that, since you are now tipsy, we are currently conversing with the English version of you?"
"No no, mon ami, you (pointing at on friend) and you, (then pointing at another one) have had multiple conversations with the English me, it was just that, (he paused and looked at his drink then his friends) I did not have the courage to utter words for they would choke me to a point whereby what I wanted to say is no longer valid, reason being that a new topic would have erupted, a topic which I have no idea what it is about, hence I zone out from time to time, allowing my thoughts to take control, and, too much thinking makes me develop a tendency of responding with one word answers." he acknowledged them and then after took a last sip of his drink.
When we were young by Adele started playing on the background, with him being familiar with the song, he rose up, went to the manager and requested to have the sound reduced a little bit so he could be audible enough, the manager saw no problem in that, so he agreed to his request. he started singing along, with a voice so clear, it began penetrating the hearts and souls of his friends, their eyes widened, jaws dropped with surprise for they have never in their entire lives, witnessed what they were experiencing, the eyes of his spectators were yearning to get closed but were incapable for they could not afford to miss even a slightest glimpse of this sight. The high note part of the song came, his voice, still clear, reached it's peak, his friends blood fluctuated giving them chills, tears suffusing in their eyes until he finished singing.
friend A asked friend B, "What!... just happened?"
"well...I—I—I... I don't know" friend B replied as he took a sip from his glass.
On his way to his friends, walking bold as a fashion model, Freddie ordered another glass of wine from the young bartender,
still surprised friend B added, "we had no idea you could sing like that, I believe that was a clear demonstration for as you can see, I still am stunned."
bowing his head a little bit while a smile was emerging, " well, I meant the lyrics of that song, more especially the part where it says

-let me photograph you in this light
in case it is the last time
that we might,
be exactly like we were before we realised
we were scared of getting old
it made us restless-

so if you don't mind, can we have a photograph together?"
his friends nodded with approval, the bartender came with Fred's wine.
"here you go sir" he said with a warm smile, as he was about to leave,
Freddie called him " can you kindly take my friends and I a photograph or two for a R100 bill?" while handing him his phone
"it would be a pleasure sir" he rejoiced as he was taking the phone
the young man took several photos and keeping his word, Freddie paid him handsomely for his splendid services.
the three men went out the bar, Freddie's chauffeur arrived and they all got in and took off. ...


© Adrian Richelieu