Saturday 7 May 2022

Unseen And Invisible

An empty car drew up to our house. A man got out. You could tell it was a man by the sound of his footsteps.

There was a knock at the door. I asked through the intercom, "Who is it?"

"The invisible man!" said the voice behind the door.

"I can't see you!" I answered back.

But he would not take "No" for an answer. He rang the doorbell again.

I opened the door. There was no one there. I shut the door and went back to my office.

He must have got into the house because moments later my office door opened and closed all by itself.

"Sorry to barge in," said the voice.

I nearly fell off my chair. "Who the hell are you? Where are you?" I asked.

"I am the invisible man," replied the voice, "I am sitting in the chair opposite you!"

I noticed the chair move a little and a bottom-shaped indentation on the seat appeared as some weight was put on it.

"The invisible man?" I stammered in trepidation.

"The very same!" he said, no doubt smiling by the sound of his voice.

It took me sometime to take all this in. After a few seconds I hesitated and asked, "if you are invisible, are all your clothes invisible too? Or are you naked?" 

"Does it make any difference?" he asked.

"It would, if you were a woman," I replied cheekily.

He must have liked my humour because he smiled again ... I think! He then said, "I am naked!"

"I must remember to disinfect this seat," I said curtly, "what do you want?"

"At last, we come down to business," the voice replied, "I would like you to write about me. You are a writer, I gather. Not a good one, but you'll do. I want you to write about invisibility. Being unseen. How it feels and how it affects people like me!"

"Does it cause you problems?" I asked getting my notebook and pencil ready.

"Of course," he explained, "I can't come and go as I please because if I open a door, people will see it open by itself and they would panic. Just like you did just now. So I have to wait until someone opens a door and I get through with them without being noticed."

I nodded as I scribbled quickly.

He continued, "Once at a party I wanted to go to the toilet and could not open the door as I explained. I had to wait until someone got in the toilet and I followed them in. Then I waited till they finished before I could go myself. After they left, I had not finished so I got trapped in the toilet room all alone. I had to wait ages until someone else came in and I got out unnoticed!"

I smiled. He saw that because I am not invisible.

"I think I've said enough," he declared, "you've plenty to get on with for now. I'd better leave through your window so that we don't panic your family!"

The chair moved. The window opened by itself. And then there was silence. He must have gone.

I thought a while about invisibility. Many people are invisible. People you meet in the street, in the shops, or on the bus or train, and you ignore them. People at work, like the security guard at the main gate that you pass every day and don't say "hello!" Or the people who deliver the mail and packages to your in-tray. You don't notice them because they're invisible.

Or the waiters in a restaurant. Waiters are always invisible I notice. Most people continue with their conversation regardless of the waiter being there.

Also the new person at work. Timid, afraid not to make a mistake, trying his best. Yet he's invisible to everyone else. No one there to make him welcome and help him along.

Old people are invisible too. Most people ignore them when they see them in the street or on the bus. 

There are so many invisible people in this world. I wonder how they feel?

Maybe ... perhaps ... I am invisible too to people around me.

Are you invisible?

29 comments:

  1. Am l invisible..? You must be joking, l've just got
    back from town, dressed from head to foot in pink,
    as l usually am..Am l invisible..?
    I got to Costa at 8.30..by 9.00 there were five people
    sat around my table..all ready for a floor show, on
    Thurs and Saturday's, l do a floor show, stories,
    jokes, and most of all, being rude to people..! HeHHe!
    I have a talent for getting away with murder.."It's the
    way l tell'em"..It's great fun, and everyone has a great
    time..and to think, l used to get paid for floor shows..!
    So..NO! I've never been invisible, never have, never
    am, and never will be..when l walk into a room, you
    know l'm there...Pee~Po..! :O).

    And..just think if it was an invisible woman...what would
    you be thinking..and what would your hands be doing...!
    "Oh! Sorry love..just looking for the light switch"..! :O)
    ✨ 💛 ✨ 💛 ✨ 💛 ✨ 💛 ✨ 💛 ✨ ✨ 💛 ✨

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Really? You walk to town dressed in pink!

      God bless, Willie.

      Delete
    2. If l'm 'NOT' dressed in pink, people will think
      there's summat wrong with me...! :).
      From the bottom, pair of pink trainers, pair
      of 'odd' as people call them, pink socks!
      They are 'NOT' odd, as l've several pairs at
      home..pair of pink three quarter cargos,
      a pink hooded sweat shirt, with 'Hillside' on
      the front, charity l support..!
      And four times during the year, l will dye my
      hair pink to..!
      Oh! I am a sight to behold..! HeHe! 'Nuff Said'..! :).

      Delete
  2. Hi Victor, I think many people can be invisible because much of what you see on the outside does not reflect what is on the inside.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Why I am coming up as anonymous I don't know. It is Brenda.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well said, Brenda. Thank you. There's something wrong with Blogger comments box these days. Many comments are either lost in transit or appear anonymous. Perhaps we are all invisible.

      God bless you.

      Delete
    2. I think you are right Victor

      Delete
    3. I Aldo think that me coming up as anonymous is a sign accompanying the fact that the outer person is not necessarily the inner person. God bless you Victor.

      Delete
    4. Yep, so many people hiding behind an image rather than being genuine.

      God bless.

      Delete
  4. ...a man got out of an empty car?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perhaps he had no personality!!!

      God bless, Tom.

      Delete
  5. Only to Sherry! Maybe one son! ;-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I don't think so. You are very visible and loved.

      God bless you, Jack; and your family too.

      Delete
  6. I see a lot of cars with invisible drivers!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know what you mean. Big cars and very short drivers.

      God bless.

      Delete
  7. Another home run, Victor! Because I felt invisible for much of my youth, this resonates deeply. Eleanor Rigby.
    Today, I'm grateful to have worked my way 'to the surface.' I try to make eye contact and call a clerk or waiter by their name when I say, "Thank you." Doesn't everyone enjoy the sound of their own name?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are so right. Perhaps I should apologise for calling you Mevely. Would you prefer I called you Myra? I thought Mevely was such an unusual name.

      I'm so glad you managed to rise to the "surface" and above. I'm certain you are a treasured friend to many.

      God bless always Myra Mevely.

      Delete
    2. Oh, I didn't mean it like that. Thanks for asking, but I enjoy you calling me Mevely. I never had a nickname before!

      Delete
  8. Dearest Victor,
    Great post and yes, in our society there are a lot of 'invisible' people. Or better said, large groups are being 'ignored' as others are way too busy with themselves!
    You had a good point about the elderly and they are also the group that is not constantly linked to their apps on a cell phone... not even looking up as they walk wherever.
    A strange world we live in! Communication has improved enormously and yet, so many are lonely...
    Hugs,
    Mariette

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Very good point, Mariette. Communication has improved yet there are many lonely people. Over here, some old people go out on the bus just to meet someone during the day. Otherwise, they are at home all alone.

      God bless always.

      Delete
  9. There are so many lonely, invisible people in the world. We should make the effort to reach out to them and acknowledge that they need not feel invisible around us.
    Blessings, Victor!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Amen. It is not a coincidence that Christ always dealt with the sick and destitute on a one-to-one basis. Taking them aside, talking to them, and healing them.

      God bless, Martha.

      Delete
  10. Sad but true, so many people are invisible to others. I sure hope I'm not one who treats people so.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We all try, let us hope we succeed to reach out to the lonely ones.

      God bless, Happyone.

      Delete
  11. I don't mind being invisible.

    ReplyDelete
  12. The best way to not be invisible is to hold doors open, then smile as the other people go through and tell them, "Have a blessed and beautiful day!" Say that also to waiters, cashiers, everyone you pass with a big smile. They notice, and they see they are noticed, and i think it helps.

    ReplyDelete

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