“Oh dear…”
Veeyel tutted as the can of food he had attempted to pick up had ended back on the floor. This was the second time he had dropped this can, which was upsetting because Veeyel wanted to put it in his shopping trolley. Thankfully though, help was on the way. A kindly dark-skinned hand scooped up the can and held it in front of Veeyel.
“Do you want me to put it back on the shelf or into the trolley?”
Veeyel smiled at this kind old soul. The last being in the universe that Veeyel expected to help anyone was standing nearby, awkwardly examining the shelves. Clearly, this handsome yellow devil wanted to speak to Veeyel.
“Could you put it in the trolley please? I am making a trifle and need some fruit for the bottom!”
“Oh? That sounds nice!” Arkadin replied, placing the can in Veeyel’s trolley. “Is it for a special occasion?”
“Nope!” Veeyel beamed. “I just wanted to make a trifle!” Veeyel suddenly remembered who he was speaking to. “Did you… Are you here for a reason?”
Arkadin shook his head. “I’m not here for that sort of reason. I just want to sit down and talk with you briefly. Can we do that?”
“Hm…” Veeyel hesitated. “I could do with a sit down. Could you give me a hand and help me take my trolley over to the cafe…”
“Of course.” Arkadin took Veeyel’s trolley and pulled it to one side, letting Veeyel lead the way. The cafe wasn’t too far off, and Veeyel immediately sat down on the first seat he could find. There was a heavy sense of weariness in his eyes and limbs.
Arkadin headed over to the cafe and brought over a couple of glasses of water and two small cakes, placing them in front of Veeyel. Veeyel looked up somewhat blankly at this deity, not sure what was going on.
“So, what did you want to discuss?” Veeyel finally asked.
“What you said to me the other day. About how you knew I was coming. How you asked me to keep a clear head, or bad things would happen. What did you mean by all of that?”
Veeyel blinked in confusion. “When did that happen?”
“Last Friday. When I popped by and we all had a drink.”
“I’ll be honest with you…” Veeyel shrugged. “I genuinely don’t remember. I memory problems. I say things I don’t always mean.”
Arkadini leaned forward, staring rather intently at Veeyel. “It’s not just memory problems. It’s… something more than that. You… You somehow predicted I would be there…”
“Nah!” Veeyel continued to smile and shrug. “We have visitors all the time. I’m sure whatever I said was just my normal rambling.”
“It wasn’t though…”
Veeyel smiled. “It was. I’m a bit of a lunatic, you know. Brain damage. Disabled. Physically and mentally. I say things and don’t remember what I said.”
“But what you said…”
“Was just gibberish! Probably.”
Arkadin sighed. “You don’t understand. What you said resonated with me and I don’t know why.”
“It did?”
“Yes. I have been stressing about it all week.”
“Why? They are just words. Not like I promised you anything. I just said… something. Probably something nice.”
“Words are important to me. What you said is important to me. As if you saw my past or my future or something.”
“Not all words though. I just said some nice things. You didn’t expect nice things so you got confused…” Veeyel took a nibble of the piece of cake, then downed his water. “I’m telling you the truth. I say weird things all the time. They mean nothing.”
“Very well…” Arkadin grunted, then stood up. “Would you like some help with the rest of your shopping?”
Veeyel’s smile grew even larger, amused by the Thantophor’s request. “That would be lovely!”