Bumping Into Those Of Past

I was buying milk at Woolworths. Correction, I was buying milk at Woolworths and not watching M*A*S*H. But anyway, I was walking past the frozen peas with a bottle of milk in each hand, one light and the other full-cream, when I saw someone I recognised. Someone I used to know at school.
His name is Matthew ...? I will check the year book. Matthew Brewer, aka "Wombo." I'm not sure how he got the nickname, I did ask him once and I think he said "because people tell me I look like a wombat." Okay...
Matthew, or Wombo, which ever you prefer, was a year above me at school so I didn't always have that much to do with him. But when we were thrown together for whatever reason we got on quite well. I would go so far as to call him a friend of the time.

I remember the first time we met was during Wednesday afternoon "options" at our high school. Wednesday ops was a period for the year nines and tens to become involved in some type of extra-curricular activity. Students could choose to play a type of inter-school sport, or one the "options". These "options" included board games, bush walking, golf, bowling, and many others I can't remember. The "options" changed and varied every term. One time a thing called Tai-Bo was available which turned out to be a sort of kickboxing aerobics. It was pretty fun, and very good exercise. Me and Matthew/Wombo were the only males in a group of about 30 students taking part in Tai-Bo so we always partnered up. I think we mutually enjoyed each others company during the time, but as we were in different year levels we never really talked outside of the exercise class.

Back to the present...
I saw Matthew/Wombo at the shops, but I didn't call out to him for he was at the other end of the store and I didn't want to embarrass myself. I thought "I can catch up to him when he goes down the aisle."
He started walking down the chip and dips aisle, and I headed down baby and pet food (why do they put baby and pet food in the same place? I've always wondered that) intent on cutting him off and surprising him. But! He had made a U-turn into the confectionery section. Blast!

By now the two bottles of ice cold milk I held were beginning to numb my fingers and hands. I knew I had to eventually pay for the milk and leave, and my erratic running around was beginning to attract the attention of several Woolworths employees. But I just wanted the chance to bump into Matthew and say "hi."

I never got the chance.

Despite his slightly stocky stature Matthew was a swift walker and always seemed to disappear behind a shelf just before I could reach him. I eventually gave up and wandered to the checkout to pay for my milk.

Then I thought the tables had turned. As I stood in line, Matthew walked in my direction. I smiled at him as he walked past, mere inches from me. But he just kept on walking.

He had not recognised me.

I walked home rather disappointed and annoyed that I had not done more to gain his attention.

It also made me think. Had Matthew purposely tried to avoid me? Why? Would he have found it awkward to talk with me for what ever reason? Was the feeling of friendship not mutual? Did he in fact remember me as annoying or one to be avoided? Did he remember me at all? Did he not recognise me as he walked past; am I more different than I possibly imagined?

I shall probably never know.