The writer

– Hey! Can you lend me a fiver? I’m having the kids over this weekend and I´m completely broke!

And a fiver can fix it? Here´s three hundred.

It wasn´t actually a loan. It was more like a donation. I never kept any records of what he borrowed. And there was never any talk of him paying me back. That was just the way he was. A free artist’s soul in the middle of life with an indomitable optimism.

– Hey! On Friday I will get a grant in connection with research for a book I have planned to write!

He always had new book projects underway and constantly submitted applications for research funding. Now he had finally succeeded. With one project at least.

That´s great! Congratulations!

– Yes! And hey! I would like to treat you to a nice dinner, for all the times you have been there for me when I have been broke, hungry, sick and sometimes just a little thirsty.

Cool!

– Yes! I´ll book a table for Friday at eight o’clock at the city’s best restaurant and we´ll make an evening of it!

Friday night we sat there and he rubbed his hands playfully. – Hey! Tonight we go all in! Let´s order an appetizer and dessert with cognac!

After a meal fit for a king had been eaten, and all the stories to be told had been told, he was still just as excited. – Hey! What shall we do now?!

Well, we can probably go on to a bar and continue the evening there.

– Hey! That wasn´t exactly what I was thinking about. I didn´t receive that grant – so what do we do with the bill? I’m completely broke.