William hadn’t expected that Maria’s father also lived on East 62nd Street. It must be fate, he thought.
Over the past few days, William had become acquainted with his neighbors.
The old district was bustling with life and full of warmth. Most of its inhabitants were elderly folks living alone, though sometimes you’d see grandparents with their grandchildren. Their own children might only visit once a week or even once a month, underscoring the saying that sometimes neighbors can be closer than distant relatives. People got along well, and neighbors would readily help each other out in times of need.
William remembered the old man who lived opposite him was named Theo Hughes. Theo would set up a small stand on the street and sell hot dogs after picking up his young granddaughter from kindergarten.
Speaking of Theo Hughes’s granddaughter, William recalled he once called her Amy. She must be Maria’s daughter.
Aurora dropped William off in front of his East 62nd Street home. Maria stayed in the car, glancing at the house a couple of times before driving off as William alighted.
By then, it was quite late. The lights at Maria’s father’s home were already turned off. William headed inside to get some rest. Even though he didn’t need sleep as much these days, he tried to maintain a routine similar to most people.
At 7:30 in the morning, after freshening up, William glanced over to Nathaniel’s yard. Nathaniel was already practicing some exercises. Evelyn had prepared breakfast, leaving a portion for Nathaniel, and was getting ready to head to school.
“William, aren’t you going to school?” Evelyn was genuinely puzzled by him. He was so passionate about reading, often skipping class, which seemed inconsistent with his love for books.
William responded, “You go ahead. I’ll attend in the afternoon.”
Classes couldn’t be more flexible than that.
“Alright, then I’ll head off,” Evelyn said, hopping on her bike toward school.
Walking into Evelyn’s yard, Nathaniel paused in his exercise routine. He addressed William earnestly, “William, you should prioritize your studies. Skipping classes like this isn’t right.”
“I mostly self-study,” William chuckled, “Don’t worry about me. You’ve been practicing that exercise routine I taught you for two days. How does it feel?”
“After I finish, I do feel more energized. What’s the name of the routine?”
“Yoga Fusion, ever heard of it?” William replied. “It’s a form of yoga that combines various fitness methods.”
“Yoga Fusion?” Nathaniel smiled, “I’ve seen people practice it in the park, but it’s different from what you taught me.”
Based on available information, Yoga Fusion originated in 20th-century America, merging traditional yoga with contemporary fitness techniques. Over time, various sub-styles evolved. There were even rumors that a Hollywood star relied on this regimen to maintain a youthful and vibrant physique. However, the truth was, William recognized the potential of this fitness method and combined multiple techniques to create his own version. The mainstream Yoga Fusion was quite different from what he taught Nathaniel.
“What I taught you is definitely different from what you saw in the park, but if you stick with it, you’ll surely benefit,” William said. “My cousin works at the local hospital. If you ever need anything, she’ll assist you. Don’t worry.”
“You knew about that?” Nathaniel sighed, “Your cousin said she could cure me in a month, but I know my own condition. Specialists from top hospitals have said that I don’t have much time left. At this point, I’m just comforting myself.”
William said, “Don’t be so pessimistic. My cousin comes from a long line of physicians; her grandfather is Charles Turner, you know him? If she says she can cure you in a month, she can.”
He had already imparted cutting-edge medical techniques to Alice. Combined with the exercises William taught to improve one’s vitality, if Alice, his protégé, couldn’t cure Nathaniel, it would truly be a blow to his reputation.
“Charles Turner? I’ve heard of him, a very renowned medical professor. They even call him a miracle doctor. So, your cousin is his granddaughter?” Nathaniel looked at William, “Does that mean you’re also a distant relative of the Turner family?”
“If you say so,” William replied, not in the mood to elaborate.
Nathaniel sized up William and nodded, “Seems like you come from a well-off family.” .
He was evaluating if William would be a suitable match for his granddaughter.
Handsome with a comforting way of speaking, Nathaniel found William to be quite the catch. And if he came from a good family background, where could one possibly find another young man like him?
William, in order to teach Nathaniel the exercises, practiced them with him once more.
Close to eight o’clock, Theo Hughes finally emerged with his granddaughter, Amy. Seeing William and others exercising, he waved and greeted them.
“Hey, Theo! How about a BBQ at my place this afternoon?” William, always friendly with the older residents, shouted across to Theo Hughes.
“What are you planning to grill?” Theo Hughes asked. All the neighbors loved William. They couldn’t quite pin down why, but everyone found William incredibly amiable.
William replied with a grin, “I’ll head to the supermarket later and grab some steaks. We can have a few beers.”
“Sounds good!” Theo Hughes responded, “Nathaniel, after I drop Amy off at school, I’ll come and join you for the exercise.”
Some neighbors had seen Nathaniel exercising in his backyard the previous day and had expressed interest. Taking William’s morning routine as a group activity, William was more than happy to share. These elderly folks, though aged, were very active. Practicing these exercises could help maintain their health and possibly prolong their lives.
Today, Amy wore a thick pink jacket, layered with several pieces underneath, making her look plump like a tiny penguin.
Her eyes twinkled. Hearing William speak, she shyly hid half her face behind Theo Hughes’ leg, sneaking glances at William with one visible eye.
In the past few days, every time William saw Amy, he noticed she’d often stealthily observe him but was too shy to approach. He’d always greet her with a quiet, gentle smile.
As usual, when William smiled at her this time, the little girl made a face, stuck out her pink tongue, and hid the rest of her face.
William chuckled. After saying goodbye to Nathaniel and the rest, he leisurely made his way to the nearby supermarket.
William led a relaxed life. While he was accustomed to having things done for him, he also found joy in doing things on his own – shopping for groceries and cooking included.