A first conversation (TJ)

I've written various things for both ideas and so most of the posts of the next two weeks or so will be out of order of when they were made and might make little sense on their own but bear with me. Hopefully it will start to take shape.

I'm just starting with a first conversation between Jules and Sean (no longer Simon).

The basic premise is that Jules is on a bus across Flores (an island east of Bali). She's the only westerner on the bus and is enjoying staring out at the dry, rugged hills that the bus keep circling.

They stop off at a small village. Various people get on and off. Those getting one include Sean. Sean gives Jules a smile as he gets to the free seat at the back. Jules looks annoyed at this presumed connection. This makes Sean smile more but he doesn't say anything.

Later the bus stops for half an hour for lunch. Jules sits at a table with some soup and a coke. Sean comes up to her.

Sean: Do you mind if I join you?

Jules: Why me?

Sean: I'm sorry?

Jules: Why me. There are lots of people sitting alone at tables here. Why did you choose me?

Sean: Because you're white.

He sits down.

Jules: I didn't say you could join me.

Sean: I know but I have a feeling you've got something you want to say to me and I'd rather be sitting down for the onslaught.

Jules: I have nothing to say to you

Sean: Really, there's nothing about my behaviour that's upset you? You looked really upset when I smiled at you on the bus and my smile was only very mildly lecherous so I don't think it was that.

Jules: But it was mildly lecherous?

Sean: You're an attractive woman. I'm a straight man. A thought crossed my mind. It might have come through but I wouldn't read anything into it.

Jules: I'm not the only attractive woman on the bus.

Sean: True.

Jules: But I'm the one you smiled at.

Sean: I'm not hitting on you. I'm just hoping for conversation.

Jules: Why don't you talk to the locals.

Sean: Your English is better than theirs.

Jules: You didn't know that when you smiled.

Sean: It was a reasonable guess.

Jules: Do you not find it ridiculous that people come all the way across the world and then just talk to people just like them.

Sean: So you're just like me?

Jules: Superficially yes.

Sean: But the difference is that you have an genuine interest in the country you're in and its people etc.

Jules: Is this an argument you've been looking to have?

Sean laughs and smiles in a strangely ingenuous way.

Sean: Yeah, alright. Busted. Sorry. I've just spend five days in a small Indonesian village gaving somewhat inane conversation about how many brothers and sisters I have and why I'm not married yet. I was really looking forward to talking to someone about random shit but I knew I was bound to end up having this conversation.

Jules: Why's that?

Sean: I don't know. Backpackers have a bit of a self-hate thing going on. They're not willing to admit they're just on holiday.

Jules: Do you really think that's true.

Sean: I don't mean it as an insult. If you get a chance to take a six month holiday in your life then I can't think of a better way to spend it. But there's no point pretending it's some life changing event.

Jules: You're not expecting this trip to change your life?

Sean: No, but it's only three weeks so I think it's asking a little much. How about you?

Jules: I'm travelling for six months. And I'm not expecting it to change my life. I'm sure my life will be more or less as I left it when I get back. But I'm hoping it might change me.

Sean: And what about yourself are you hoping to get changed.

Jules: That's a rather personal question to ask someone whose name you don't know.

Sean: If I did know your name, if I knew about your life, knew your friends, would in anyway come in contact with you again then I'd be more nervous about such a question but I'm a total stranger. What does it matter what you tell me?

Jules: Are you seriously saying that if you know my name you'd be less interested in my great personal problems.

Sean: Not less interested. Just more cautious about asking about them.

Jules: My name's Jules.

Sean smiles.

Sena: Sean.

Jules: Nice to meet you Sean. Unfortunately I feel we know each other too well now to have any good conversation so I'm going to continue with my book.

Jules smiles. Sean smiles. Sean is about to say something but Jules has her face very ostentatiously in her book. The book is Labyrinths by Borges in the original spanish.

Sean: Borges?

Jules: Now you know I read Spanish. I'm afraid you know far too much about me for us to have any conversation whatsoever.

Sean takes out his book 'The Year of Living Dangerously'.

The bus driver honks his horn and they both get on. They take their seats and Jules puts her earphones in. Sean watches her and smiles. He sees a guy shyly trying to make eye contact with him. He avoids him for a bit but then relents and turns to the guy.

Sean: 'Selamet Sieng'

The man is hugely excited.

Man: Selamet Sieng. Do you speak Indonesian.

Sean: No.

Man: Ok. Where you from?