For those who met him, it was a source of great amusement that his name was John Doe. He would point out that ‘Doe’ is actually a fairly interesting surname, and ‘John’ is perfectly respectable, especially when you took into account his Anglican parents. Of course, these observations did nothing to diminish the mirth of each new acquaintance.
John was a student of average ability, an artist of no distinction and a laughable sportsman. These limitations served in no way to cool his ambition, since he had none. He simply was as he was, no more, no less.
After a suitable period of chaste dating as well as parental approval on both sides, he married Susan. They told strangers that her name was ‘Jane’ so that when people snickered upon meeting John and Jane Doe, they could have the last laugh. It was a harmless quirk.
John worked as a personal care assistant. His choice of this career had nothing to do with contributing to society and everything to do with having no idea what else to do with himself. As a bonus, he liked the people he assisted but also, if he was being really honest, he wasn’t qualified for anything more skilled. Susan earned a good living as an accountant.
He had two children, Luke and Jane. He had briefly discussed having a third with Susan, but they agreed that they were only forty percent committed to another child, so it was best not to. So they didn’t. Still, it felt as though forty percent of the child they didn’t have lived the house with them.
He retired gently and spent his twilight years collecting obscure stamps, building model trains, and trying to complete a never-ending list of odd-jobs around the house. He was content. His life was his own. He would be unremembered, except for a handful of people who knew him, but he suffered no illusion that they would hold him in a special place in their hearts.
He passed without fanfare at a dignified age, followed not long after by Susan. Their children went on to be members of the community, described by people with pints as ‘good eggs’.
John was wrong about how people remembered him. His had a soft kindness, an unjudgmental openness, a lifetime of small acts of kindness. His imprint on humanity was a demonstration that good people are often quiet, usually unremarkable, but relentless in their giving. John Doe he may have been, but mediocre he was not.
Writing begun 23-05-04 | 418 words