Right away

It has already been more than a week of hot weather, very hot indeed. One of those humid heats that clings to your skin. It is only four o’clock in the afternoon, yet the sky is very dark, almost completely black, and the sun has disappeared. A storm is about to break. It is no cooler for all that. A huge flash of lightning suddenly tears across the sky and, only seconds later, thunder shakes the walls. Heavy rain, accompanied by violent winds, forces me to run and close the windows. In the park opposite my home, the trees, attacked from every side, struggle and twist, their dripping leaves clinging to the branches. The street has become nothing more than a stream of mud. I thought we people of Northern France were protected from this kind of weather phenomenon. By daybreak, the workers of Calais will clean everything up and summer will take care of the rest.

I return to my desk. Not to work, I do not have the strength for that, but to tidy up the documents piled across the table.

“Hello Rose.

Hello Walter, you frightened me!

Sorry Rose, Walter Waterman if you please, I am a fountain pen!

I know, I know! You served our creator faithfully until you became too old.

Too old, too old! But I have kept my splendour, look how my gold plating catches the sun’s rays whenever there are any. Besides, I have not lost my wit, my nib betrays me and wanders freely across the page. Goodness, it is hot! My ink is expanding, quickly put me on a blotter.

I know my friend! Do not worry. These are only small inconveniences. The important thing is that you are still able to find the little anecdote that can lighten an unpleasant situation. Even if your cheekiness sometimes irritates me.

Thank you Rose for those compliments. Cheekiness! I love it!

Why have you come? Do you need my help?

No Rose, I was bored. The flattery of my companions in the pen holder entertains me for a while but…

But you need stimulation. Searching through documents and finding a fact that you can comment on in your own way.

Our matriarch is only just beginning to use the keyboard again. She is getting older and her memory sometimes fails her. I watch her grumble and go back through her notebooks to find her notes.

Do not worry Walter! She will get back into her working rhythm.

I hope so Rose, I truly hope so! But what time is it?

Six o’clock!

Quick, I must be off! Goodbye Rose! I have to rush home right away!

I did not even have time to wish him good evening. Calm has returned, and I open both sides of all the windows to enjoy the refreshing currents of air. Tonight, I shall finally manage to sleep.”