The "stranger" ain't a stranger. We used to meet in Serbia in the late 1970s.

Well, "used to" is a bit too strong. I saw him twice, as we were returning to "old country" from Canada, and he from Australia. We'd visit for the duration of summer holidays every other year or so, his folk only every 3-4 years.

What was his name? Milovan? Milorad? Radomil? Anyway, it was "australianised" to Miles. Up to then I thought miles were a unit of measurement about to be replaced with kilometres.

He played guitar and harmonica. Tried to teach me how to (he was 2 or 3 years older). The second time we met he was mostly into going out with girls and staying late, after my 11 PM curfew. I was 13 at the time I think. At 16 he could do everything better than me, I was just a better swimmer, cause they lived somehwere in the desert. He wore those same sunglasses that he has in this photo, and I had an even bigger pair.

His sister was older by 6 or 7 years and was dating a Japanese guy in Melbourne where she went to university. She came to Serbia only once, might have gotten married later. Miles was planning to go to college in the UK.

I never met him again. The house they built in Serbia has been sold and resold since.

Miodrag