Calgary, January 2023
A year ago, I wrote a story about John who wanted to save the world. He decided that one way to do that was to save the hot water by showering together with Diana, his friend from the gym. When John’s wife Mary caught them, she almost through him out of their house, and only his promise never even to think about Diana saved him. But John didn’t always fulfill his promises; he did think about Diana, and he still wanted to save the world. His new chance came when he read an advert published by American Bird Conservancy organization: “Save Birds, Save Our Earth.” It wasn’t immediately obvious how saving the birds will save the Earth, so John did some research. He found out that birds bring plants back to the ecosystems, and they even carry seeds across the sea to far lands. “This is great,” he thought and called Diana.
“Hello Diana. Do you still want to save the world?”
“Not by showering with you.”
“I know, it was a disaster. Mary almost thew me out. But we can try something else.”
“What?”
“Saving birds. ‘Save Birds, Save Our Earth’. That is what the American Bird Conservancy advert says,” and John explained the importance of birds to the ecosystem.
“And how do you want to save the birds?”
“I don’t know,” admitted John. “Perhaps we can go birdwatching and study their habitats.”
”I don’t want to go birdwatching. Invite your wife,” and Diana hung the phone.
John was disappointed but had to admit that Diana was lost to him. The showering together disaster did it.
For a time being all went well, until one evening Mary mentioned:
“John, you promised me something.”
“Yes, I am sure I did. What was it?”
“You promised me you will leave Diana alone.”
“Yes, and I did leave her alone.”
“And what is this?” asked Mary showing him their phone bill with Diana number underlined.
John face got red, and he franticly tried to come with some lie, but he was a bad liar.
“There must have been some mistake, I never called her.”
“So, you not only broke you promise, but you are also lying to me. John, if you have an affair with her, that will be a definitive end between us.”
“I don’t have an affair with her, I only wanted to save the world again,” cried John.
“By showering together?”
“No, by saving the birds,” and John explained to Mary what he explained to Diana some time ago. “But after the showering disaster she doesn’t want to have anything to do with me,” he added. This was something Mary could easily believe. If she were in Diana’s shoes, she would do the same. There was a silence and then John remembered Diana’s advice: “Invite your wife.”
“But Mary,” he finally suggested. “We can save the world together. Would you want to go birdwatching with me?”
Mary didn’t have any interest in birds, but she thought this wasn’t the time to be difficult. It looked that this time John didn’t lie, he meant what he said.
“OK, I will go,” she agreed, and John smiled at her.