When It's Time to Move On

Door 1 - Chapter 5 - The Stranger

He stood outside the restaurant for a couple of seconds thinking over what just happened. Strange people those two, he thought, figuring they might simply be eccentric in their ways.

"Hey buddy, here again?" It was the teenager who had asked him for a fix yesterday. "You really like this place, do ya?"

"You could say that," said Harris, the boy stared at him smiling broadly, swinging in his spot.

"So, man, how about fixing me up some today?"

"You mean money?"

"Sure if you wanna give me some."

Harris remembered that he did promise the boy more if he wanted.

"Fine," he said, pulling out his wallet. "Here you go."

He walked away, making the turn around the corner when he saw something drifting fast towards him; the same kid on the bike as yesterday.

"Sorry, mister," the boy apologized.

"You again?" asked Harris.

"Oh, it's you", said the kid. "You wanna race?"

"No, it's alright."

"Come on, I'll beat you today."

"All right, then," Harris gave in.

He didn't sprint as wildly as before. Yet he won again.

"Boy, you're really fast," the boy panted.

"You should work on your biking, kid."

"Ya, I guess." The boy wheeled away.

Harris scratched his head. Shrugging his shoulders, he decided to go to the ice skating rink to bring some kind of change. By the time he was done, his good spirits from the morning returned.

Once he was out, Harris decided to go for a movie. Just as the previous day, there was only one movie available to see, the foreign language one. Not feeling like watching it again, he left and was called into the bowling alley he'd scored the record in yesterday. They wanted him to take another shot at his own score. By the time he was out, he'd bested his effort from the previous day. Harris received another free dinner at the same ritzy restaurant for the night.

It was still light out when he got to the beach, and his eye caught something else. The stranger by the rocks – head hunched down – the man remained in his position unmoving. 

Harris stared at him. It was strange how this person continued to be seated in the same position at the same location. Even if he had left last night, why would he return to simply sit around again? Suddenly, Harris didn't feel much like swimming; he slowly made his way back into the house, looking over at the man as he went.

He went into the kitchen to take out his favorite vanilla-flavored ice cream and settled on the couch to watch TV. It was Annie Hall. Harris looked at the screen in disbelief. This again? He picked up his remote and quickly switched the channel on the chance that something else might be on, but to no avail. He couldn't have any of the ice cream now. 

When it was time for dinner, he left for the restaurant. Outside, the stranger remained in his position as resolute as ever. Harris ignored him, pushing the thought out of his mind. At the restaurant, the music being played was particularly captivating, making him tap his toes to its rhythm as the waiter arrived to take his order.

"Enjoying it, sir?" He asked Harris.

"Yes, it's a good tune."

"A customer had performed this original piece of music and it's been played here since then."

"That's nice. When did that happen?"

"I believe that was a very long time ago," said the waiter. "So, for your order?"

"I ate a bit before coming here so I'll just have soup."

"The same as before, sir?"

"Oh no," said Harris quickly. "I will have the chicken soup."

"Alright, sir." The waiter bowed.

Harris turned his attention back to the music while he waited for his order. The song ended and the harmonist spoke of the person who'd originally performed it, but Harris didn't get to hear much as the waiter returned.

"I'm sorry, sir, we're out of the chicken soup."

"That's a shame. I'll just look through the menu again."

"I'm afraid the only item of soup left is the crab bisque," the waiter told him.

"Did you say crab bisque?" Harris's head shot up. The waiter nodded. Harris blinked in astonishment, it couldn't be.

"That was what I had last night..."

"Very well, sir, it'll be over right away." The waiter went off toward the kitchen before Harris had the chance to stop him. He fell back in his chair as numerous thoughts swirled in his head.

The whole day seemed to be Déjàvu, as if he had lived through it before. He wiped the sweat off his forehead, too deep in his thoughts to realize his meal had already been placed on the table. The crab bisque was exquisitely prepared tonight as well although his distracted mind wasn't able to fully appreciate this.

"Hi, I thought it was you," a girl approached him. "So, are you in a good enough mood to buy dessert for everyone tonight as well?"

Harris stared at her wide-eyed. She'd been here last night, and his eyes darted quickly around at everyone else. Now that he thought about it, they did seem familiar. He jumped up from his seat and paced out of the restaurant.

The only thing that made sense was to climb into bed and go to sleep, a long relaxing one. Hopefully, when he got up in the morning this would all seem amusing. He reached the front door of the house before stopping to see someone.

The stranger. Sitting in his chosen spot, the tallest rock around the bay, the spot that seemed to be his throne. Harris's nervousness had slowly begun to creep in when he turned it into fury. At this moment, he hated that man.

How dare he sit there for hours at a time doing nothing? He had a full mind to tell the man off. Harris walked over to the rocks and grabbed the man's shoulder, ready to give him a piece of his mind.