Forgotten times.

I'd no recall as to how I had come to be walking down this long dusty road, or just how long I had been walking.
I was dog-tired and weary.
Looking down at the clothes that I was wearing, I wasn't really surprised that the few cars that had passed me by had completely ignored my attempts to hitch a lift.
I wouldn't have stopped either, seeing someone of my unkempt appearance hoping to be given a ride in a nice car.

The rain started to fall and I sought shelter under a large cluster of trees, in fact it was a small wood, and I was grateful for its being there to afford me some respite from what now had become a torrential downpour of rain.
Eventually even the trees began to drop their rain upon me.
They had done their job, and now it was up to me to find better shelter.

Looking around in desperation, I spied a large house standing majestically atop a hillside.
Surely someone there would let me stay in the barn, or even the garage.
Running as fast as I could I reached the house after a few minutes.
There was indeed a barn, and its door stood ajar.

Hurrying inside was like walking into another world. Dry and calm.
I closed the door behind me and lay down on a huge pile of hay that was stacked in the far corner.
I must have fallen asleep from exhaustion, for when I again opened my eyes it was night-time and the stars were shining in a clear sky.
The rain had long ceased to fall and the evening was still and calm.

Leaving the barn I slowly walked around the perimeter of the house. It was in total darkness.
No car in the drive, and no sign of occupants.
At the rear of the house I found the door to the kitchen standing wide-open.That was strange!

Knocking on the open door I called a tentative, "Hello," but received no reply.
To all intents and purposes the house was empty.
Surely the occupants hadn't left the house without locking the kitchen-door?
Switching on the lights I discovered that the kitchen was enormous.
Obviously a very wealthy family were living here.

Hunger overcame my reluctance to steal, and I opened the door to the large refrigerator that stood apart from the rest of the lavishly appointed kitchen.
What a sight greeted my eyes, for it was packed full with food of all descriptions.
Taking a ready-cooked chicken and a jar of pickles, I sat at the huge table and began to satisfy my hunger.
I made cup after cup of scalding hot coffee, and gulped them down between mouthfuls of delicious chicken.
There was even a pack of cigarettes lying on the worktop and I sat back smoking whilst enjoying my surroundings.

My next job was to go in search of something to write with, and on, as I'd no intention of leaving without writing an explanatory note to the hapless owners of this magnificent house.
Wandering through the expensively appointed rooms I was unable to find anything that I could use. Perhaps there would be something in the bedrooms.

I wandered upstairs and entered what turned out to be the master-bedroom.
There was nothing at all in the bedside cabinets. They were completely empty!
That again was strange.
I opened the wardrobe door and was surprised to find that there was only one suit hanging there.
On the shelf was an expensive shirt and a pair of dress shoes, and a set of underwear and sox.
The other wardrobe was completely empty!
This really was becoming a mystery.

The other bedrooms, apart from the furniture, were completely empty of clothing.
Perhaps the owners had gone on holiday?
That was the only suggestion my befuddled brain could come up with.

Entering the bathroom I found there were two large bath-towels hanging on a heated towel-rail, and an electric razor lying on the basin edge.
This was indeed a Godsend. Everything I needed for a fresh start.

I ran a hot bath, and while it was filling I shaved my face with the razor.
How beautifully it removed the unkempt stubble.
I was already beginning to feel like a new man.

Now soaking in the steaming bath I tried desperately to recall the events of the passed days, but I was only capable of odd flashes of memory.
Something about a hospital and nurses, a casino and gambling tables, two beautiful girls...
No, it made no sense yet, but it probably would eventually, given time.

Stepping out of the bath I towelled myself dry, and with the second towel tied around my waist, I walked back to the bedroom.
I donned the underwear and sox, put on the shirt and then the trousers. They fitted me perfectly.
On went the shoes and jacket, and I then inspected myself in the wardrobe's mirrored door.
The transformation was unbelievable.
"Clothes maketh the man." The old saying was indeed accurate.

Suddenly I had an overwhelming desire to rest once again, so I lay back on the bed, fully dressed, and closed my eyes.
Again flashes of memory overcame me; A doctor saying to a nurse that I would have to be committed to a sanatorium the next day.
The nurse giving me medication that I only pretended to swallow.
The furtive escape from the hospital during the night, wearing whatever clothing I had managed to find in the orderlies lockers.
Nothing fitted me, but I didn't care, I just needed to escape from this dreaded hospital.

Then only running, running, running, until totally exhausted, I had found this beautiful house.
I fell into a deep sleep. The last sleep that I was to ever have.

Meanwhile, in another country, a beautiful elderly lady was enjoying her breakfast.
She opened the morning paper and gazed at the picture of an unkempt face, along with an artist's sketch showing the face as it would appear were it truly recognisable.

Above were the glaring headlines, "DO YOU RECOGNISE THIS MAN?"
Accompanying the pictures was a graphic account relating to the man.
His body had been found in a derelict building in the city centre.
Police were asking for any information that the public could offer.

The lady smiled to herself, and folding the newspaper, she gently placed it in the rubbish bin.
It had taken a long time, but fate had finally evened the scores.

Kitos.