"I Bought The Cabin I Will Be Killed In. You Will Join Me."
Part 1 : Dinner 52 With A Dear Friend Preparing To Die in 144 Days
AN ACTUAL CONVERSATION BETWEEN EMMANUEL AND I AT THE RESTAURANT CHRISTIAAN SMIT WHERE WE WERE HOSTED BY THE BENEVOLENT CHEF SIMON VAN LITH - THE OWNER. WE SPOKE ABOUT THE BEGINNING OF THE END AS HE COUNTS DOWN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO HIS DEATH OVER A FOUR COURSE MEAL ON A COZY EVENING.
Emmanuel: My father has finally read my poems…
Me: Oh, from the ones you mentioned will be published by Random House ?
Emmanuel: Which they're of course only allowed to publish upon my death. But…yes.
Me: So……..what did he think about it? [ I WHISPER IMPATIENTLY ]
Emmanuel: He basically tried to apologise “if” he “contributed” to any of the childhood trauma which brought me to this point. [GESTURING QUOTATION MARKS WITH FINGERS]
Me: Oh really? [MY HANDS INVOLUNTARILY GRAB THE COLLAR OF MY SWEATER]
Emmanuel: Yeah it was via text. And I told him that he knows what he did and that I its literally too late.
Me: Oh Emmanuel…. [I STOP MYSELF FROM EXTENDING MY HANDS TO HIS]
Emmanuel: He asked if I no longer want him in my life. As in…if I want us to go completely no-contact for my time left on earth.
Me: And…?
Emmanuel: I said yes. He blocked me. I’m really…really happy about this Joseph. [ HIS EYES BECOME TEARY AND TRAGICALLY BLUER ]
Me: I’m really glad for you. [ I LEAN IN SLOWLY ]
Emmanuel: Thank you man. I’m finally free from him. That’s all I ever wanted.
Me: It is well.
Emmanuel: Speaking of freedom, so you know I’ve quit my job right ?
Me: Right? Congratulations are in order I imagine.
Emmanuel: Exactly, why do you think I brought this 21 year old bottle of genièvre.
Me: THIS looks good!
Emmanuel: We’ll try it later. But I’ve asked the company to now assign me the more challenging, risky projects to do for free.
Me: Oh..Oh….wow.
Emmanuel: Yeah, this is a 45 ft tree I recently worked on for the sweetest old lady who’d been saving to get this sorted [ PROCEEDS TO SHOW ME AN ASTONISHING SHOT ]
Me: Lord….Who took that picture though..…
Emmanuel: She did. While I was working. [ CHUCKLES SOFTLY ]
Me: I guess that is literally what living on the edge looks like.
Emmanuel: The panoramic views are something else at that height. Maybe one day I’ll strap a harness on you and you’ll get to experience it too. [ DEAD PAN SERIOUS ]
Me: Yeah….maybe…not a bad way to go to be honest if the rope snaps [ NERVOUS SMILE INSUES ]
Emmanuel: Hahah. When I finally got down she asked me how much. You should have seen her face when I told her it was free. She wanted to hug me.
Me: Oooh bless you.
[ THE FIRST COURSE ARRIVES BEAUTIFULLY PLATED WITH GREEN SAUCE, LEEK AND TAHINI ALONG WITH A WHITE WINE PAIRING WITH A BEAUTIFULLY SOFT ACIDITY. CHEF SIMON PERSONALLY CAME TO DISCUSS EACH MEAL IN DETAILS AS IT ARRIVED AT OUR TABLE THROUGHOUT THE EVENING ]
Me: What’s the title of your book going to be ?
Emmanuel: The XXXXXXX XXX
Me: What a poignant title. I’ve never seen that word used that way.
Emmanuel: Coming from you that’s a huge compliment. Umm…I wanted to ask—
Me: Sure….what’s up?
Emmanuel: Errrrrr……so would you be okay if I dedicate the book I’m publishing with Penguin to you?
Me: [THE HAIRS ON MY HEAD SUDDENLY STAND] Ummm…..terribly flattered but only if you really really want to.
Emmanuel: I fucking want to. And I have some more great news [ HIS EYES BRIGHTEN ALMOST CHANNELING HIS SOUL IN THAT MOMENT ]
Me: Hahahaha. Keep it coming.
Emmanuel: I officially bought the cabin in the Ardennes were I will be killed finally. And I’ve of course I put your name down with my GP to be there when it happens. You…..and three others alone.
Me: Wait…slow down…..What does that actually mean?