TEENAGE TALES: THE WORLD'S A STAGE, AND EACH MUST PLAY HIS PART...

I've written before about Adam Cowie, also known as 'Billy Liar', so time once again for yet another chapter in the seemingly unending saga of the life of a fantasist.  Adam Cowie isn't his real name, but it's close enough for those who knew him to know who I'm referring to should they ever read this.

I'd not long turned 16 when the tale I'm about to relate occurred.  Adam, being around 3 and a half months younger than me, was about due to turn 16, or had maybe just celebrated his 16th birthday relatively recently.  Anyway, I chapped his door one evening to be met by a woman by the name of Mrs. Pert, who announced that Mrs. Cowie had just died.

Adam appeared behind her at the door and I expressed my condolences.  I decided to return home and leave him to his grief, but he said he'd accompany me part of the way as he wanted to call in on another of his pals to see him about something.  As we walked, he asked me not to tell my parents that his mother had died as he "didn't want anyone to know", which puzzled me, but I agreed to his odd request.

(Turns out, as I later learned, that he'd only visited his pal to inform him of Mrs. Cowie's death and soak up some sympathy.  So much for not wanting anyone to know.  His lie made sense to me later though.)

At least a week had passed, maybe a fortnight, when a mutual friend asked me if I'd heard that Mrs. Cowie had recently passed away.  I was surprised, and said "But how did you know?  Adam said he wanted to keep it quiet."  "Everybody knows" he replied.  Well, if everybody knew, I saw no reason not to tell my parents and duly did so that very same evening.

In the fullness of time, Adam visited my house one day and was made a fuss of by my mother in the way that only women can.  (I'd told him that my folks knew as there had seemed no point in keeping them in the dark, seeing as how it was common knowledge.)  As I studied Adam, it seemed to me that he was enjoying being the centre of attention and lapping it up, like an actor relishing playing a starring role.

It was only then I realised why he'd asked me not to tell my parents of his mother's death - he'd wanted to retain the 'element of surprise' and thereby increase the drama of the situation.  It has far more of an effect on those offering condolences if they haven't been forewarned of your bereavement.  You may think that fanciful, but he admitted to it when I broached the subject a couple or so years later.  I'm not sure how I feel about that - is it a natural reaction of a teenager to exploit such a sad occasion in order to revel in the attention and sympathy it brings?

(Not much of a story there, admittedly, but I find such examples of human nature fascinating, and thought that the rest of you might too.)

His father outlived his mother by only around two years, but a similar thing happened then, also, which  I'll tell you all about it in the very next instalment of Teenage Tales - right here on Crivens!