16. Sorting out life

Jack didn't say anything. Cath sniffled into her hanky and tried to get herself under control.
"But what is success?" Jack asked.
Cath didn't say anything.
"What if loads of people came and were rude and thought it was stupid. Would that have been a success?"
"At least the bus would have been full." Cath muttered. "Look I think I am just not this sort of person. I am not like you. I can't just go from thing to thing and not care whether it is good or not. I want to make something worthwhile of my life."
Jack cut her off. "That's a bit harsh isn't it? How can you say my life is not worthwhile? Is yours, with always striving to further yourself or is the world all about you?"
Cath said nothing.
"My life surely is all about me. Isn't it?" She stared into her cup.
It was Jack's turn to be silent and take a slurp of coffee.
"But is reaching for success, ticking off milestones and goals - is that what life is about? What about enjoying the moment, enjoying the people you are with - you know, living?"
Cath didn't have an answer for that. She did think life was about doing all she could before it was over. Surely that was the idea? She wanted to look back with pride at what she had achieved, but maybe she was wrong.
"I'm not enjoying this coffee." She said.
"No. It does suck." agreed Jack.
"How about if I ever do this again we go somewhere with nice food?"
"Oh there is good food here. You just have to know where to look and maybe not right here but let me find somewhere for tonight eh. See you back here at seven."
Then he was gone. Cath sat back on the squishy sofa, watching new guests wander in, trundling their suitcases behind them like little pets. What did she want out of life? She might have to ring Millie for a chat and did he mean something by enjoying the people you are with? Was it more than dinner tonight?