The Mystery Man

Back in July of 2019 while in Edinburgh airport I saw a man with whom I was intrigued and with whom I had a conversation. My thought was that I would write a story about the encounter and the impression that his appearance made on me – hence the title, “You can never tell a book by its cover,” which is a quote from the 1946 murder mystery “Murder in the Glass Room.”  Another quote along the same line is by William Shakespeare:

“So may the outward shows be least themselves:
The world is still deceived with ornament.”

This project was forgotten about until a few weeks ago, July 12th, 2020. It was when I heard the words of this song below being used in a sermon that made me think back to that experience in Edinburgh airport last year. Read on …….

A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher
Ridin’ on a midnight bus bound for Mexico
One’s headed for vacation, one for higher education
And two of them were searchin’ for lost souls

That driver never ever saw the stop sign
And eighteen wheelers can’t stop on a dime
There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway
Why there’s not four of them, Heaven only knows
I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you
It’s what you leave behind you when you go

Now that you have read the first verse match the person with a gender.
Then here is the next verse.

That farmer left a harvest, a home and eighty acres
The faith and love for growin’ things in his young son’s heart
And that teacher left her wisdom in the minds of lots of children
Did her best to give ’em all a better start
And that preacher whispered, “Can’t you see the Promised Land?”
As he laid his blood-stained bible in that hooker’s hand

Now you get a better idea – can you say who survived? Here is the last verse.

That’s the story that our preacher told last Sunday
As he held that blood-stained bible up
For all of us to see
He said “Bless the farmer, and the teacher, and the preacher
Who gave this Bible to my mama
Who read it to me”

Now did that surprise you? The preacher died and the hooker lived but her son became a preacher. I got the last bit all wrong – before I read the last verse I thought that the hooker died.

Well I guess it is how you interpret what you read – we all have preconceived ideas. So it was when I saw the young man wearing the fedora hat in Edinburgh Airport. My first thought was “39 Steps” by John Buchan – the book was published in 1915 and a movie was made by Alfred Hitchcock in 1935. A story of murder, spies and intrigue in which the main character decides to take a train from London and go into hiding in Scotland.

Here is my story. On July 19th, 2019 it was a sunny morning in Edinburgh as my husband Ron and I caught the fast tram to the airport. We had spent a wonderful 10 days in Scotland with our son and grandchildren and another few days together exploring the places in Edinburgh where we had never been. The atmosphere in Edinburgh is like no other city. Which other city has a castle in the center and tunnels underneath that you can visit and think that you have stepped back in time? Literary giants have roamed the streets along with bodysnatchers and actors. My head was filled with pictures and sounds as I watched the buildings of the city disappear behind us as we traveled on through open countryside and approached the airport – with way too much luggage! After checking in we had plenty time so we walked towards a quiet area to wait and collect our lunch and our thoughts. Then I saw him. A young man sitting on his own reading a small, apparently leather-bound book. I thought it strange that he held a green ballpoint pen in his hand – was he going to write in that nice book – or was it a diary from which he was reading notes? He looked quite young – perhaps early twenties – and was sitting very upright, legs crossed, with excellent posture as if he were posing for a film crew. His clothing and accessories were perfect from the black Fedora and elegant fine rimmed glasses to his brown leather toe capped shoes. He wore an expensive Burberry coat over a finely woven tan wool jacket. His navy wool trousers had perfect turn ups and his socks were an exact navy match. A crisply ironed pale blue shirt and a well knotted wine tie completed his outfit. My eyes then caught sight of the brown leather luggage sitting by his feet which were sumptuous and well used. My mind was racing trying to figure out who or what he was. My first thought was an actor, or writer – my mind going back to the 39 Steps – he did not seem real. Why was I thinking this – probably because of my background of working as a dorm parent in a performing arts school. Students were often dressing to impress, or to hide or assume an identity or draw attention and sometimes never quite being what they were projecting.  He was what I would say a little overdressed since it was summer – but then again it was Scotland. Nationality – I would say British by his clothes most probably English. As I sat at an angle watching he seemed frozen in time from another era and I wanted so much to take a picture!! I mentioned to my husband that I was going to talk to the young man and Ron decided that this would be a good time to go for a coffee. After a short prayer I approached the young man. “Excuse me sir, my name is Heather and I like to write and take pictures to go along with my writing. I was wondering if I could take your picture.” He looked at me from under the brim of his hat and said “Off course you can.” He started to reposition himself and I said “Would you mind just continuing reading and I will just take a few shots” I said some other pleasantries and then in an accent that I perceived to be English he asked me a question “Can I inquire as to the reason you chose to take my photograph?” Oops, now the shoe was on the other foot but I had to be honest. “Well, when I saw you I was intrigued by how you are dressed and your demeanor.” He tilted his head, looked at me quizzically and out came another question.”Where do you think I come from?” I had to say England at that point to which he replied “No I am actually American.” Oh boy what do I say now? During this discourse he did not smile but I think he felt sorry for me and as I stood there lost for words he looked at me and gave a slight smile. I started to tell him that I had worked at a boarding school in Boston. This was the signal to him that I was not some old crackpot and he then told me a little about himself. “I am a Professor at a University in the states.(Unfortunately I cannot remember the University that he told me) I lecture in 18th century studies and I was in Edinburgh attending the International Congress on the Enlightenment.” At this point Ron, thankfully, reappeared with coffee in hand which gave me a reason to beat a hasty retreat and not have to try to have a discourse on the Enlightenment or David Hume. I smiled, said thank you and walked off with my husband to buy some lunch. Wow, I was way off – he seemed far too young to be a lecturer and he certainly did not look American.

Now back to the present and here is the picture you have been waiting for. Is he what you imagined and what would you think of this young man? A little side note, The Sun newspaper in Britain – you see on the seat beside the man – is similar to the American National Enquirer!

 As I wrote this I thought it would be fun to ask some people at random what their first impression was and what they perceived about this person. Here is what they wrote. M = male F =female. There are seven women and five men who participated and of course myself!!.

Judging by the young man’s appearance, he appears to be well educated and studious. It looks like he is holding a Bible, so perhaps he is a divinity student or a young pastor? I’d venture to guess he is American (not British despite being in Edinburgh at the time). I also doubt the newspaper on the bench next to him was his. (M)

 On first glance, if I didn’t know the picture was taken last July, my imagination would have thought this picture was taken at a train station in the 1950s or some time ago. Knowing the picture is more recent, I imagine this man is educated, introspective, well-traveled, and quiet, but when he speaks, always has something smart and thought-provoking to add. I could picture that he lives in a country he is not from and is possibly a teacher. He is traveling home. (F)

I’d assume that newspaper isn’t his 🙂 At first, I thought of a journalist with the fedora but not with an expensive Burberry coat. The face, attire, bag and choice of drink, a single German-Swiss doctor or physician of sorts.The book is intriguing as it seems transparent. (M)

My first impression is that he is in the wrong decade, he looks like he is dressed for the 50s maybe, very well dressed.. Burberry mac. Wealthy, leather luggage. He is reading a Bible and using a marker, so a committed man. Probably in his 30s/40s. Very clean cut and fastidious. He could possibly have some Asian ethnicity somewhere in his genes. Does not look Scottish.. at all! (F)

Guessing – A German doctor. (M)

My thoughts from start to finish: gay, well dressed, good taste, diplomat, healthy, wealthy, from a cold climate. (F)

He seems to be an academically well educated person, good home upbringing, a law abiding person, a professional of some sort. He is young, good looking, he seems to have nice eyes, sensuous mouth, well kept nails and good hands. He seems to be single, no ring in his finger. He obviously works with his brain, with his intellect, definitely not with his hands. He is most probably middle class, impeccably dressed for work except for his shoe strings which are not nicely tied and are more fitting for running shoes than for dress shoes. All his clothes seem to be fairly new, except his shoe strings…Maybe he is just starting a new job. His carry on bag is old and definitely worn. He travels a lot and maybe that bag contains samples that he needs to show his clients to be. But his hat is definitely what sets him apart for me. It is not a hat that just any young man would choose. I personally dislike the style of the hat. He is too young for that style, it makes him look older. It seems more like a hat symbolic of what he is professionally. Could he be a member of a special religious group, Jewish or Christian? Could he be a college professor? He could just be a young businessman, a member of a law firm. (F)

He is fashionable, a young lawyer or diplomat. (M)

I have had several thoughts, however it looks like a young man who is role-playing about an author who lived years ago. This author is making notes for his new novel and has been traveling doing the research necessary to provide an authentic historic context for this book! (F)

I see an affluent young banker who is quiet and very well read and highly intellectual. I think that he’s single and plans to remain that way. (F)

Self obsessed pretender, no one dresses like that in this day and age.
Very very well put together, expensive, well coordinated outfit ( probably a big fan of Turner black and white movies) love the Windsor knot in the tie, and razor sharp creases in trousers. FABULOUS LUGGAGE, however, no priority labels, and not in first class lounge, which suggests he is traveling “coach.” I don’t think a professional man. Well paid, obvious white collar but no English Professor, surgeon, diplomat or high priced lawyer would use a green plastic pen, they would be wielding a Sheaffer fountain pen. Alas and alack I think he is a would be if could be. (F)

I suppose my first thought was, ‘What nationality might he be?’ I’m not sure if the newspaper is his, but he must speak English as you had a conversion with him. The clothes are the only clue I have and, as I said, it’s just a guess – an impression I get from studying his features and his manner of dress. I don’t think he’s British, or American. He looks European to me and if I had to choose a country, I would say Swiss. I suppose he could be French, Dutch, German but Swiss was my first impression. He also looks very intelligent.As to who he is, or the purpose of his trip, his luggage I suppose gives a hint or two. Brief-case and overnight bag suggest a business trip. He’s very smartly dressed, I would guess age 25 – 30 and I would think a frequent traveller. I suppose he could be an MEP, or politician of some kind but now I’m really guessing so will leave it at that. (M)

This was a wonderful project and it makes me see that we sometimes take a little from our background  and project it onto others- I know that I did. Thank you so much to all who participated – you were great sports and very insightful. Three people said diplomat/politician, two said he was reading a Bible, three said German or Swiss and two said doctor. One person got his nationality right – an American. Three people noted that he was single. One got his correct profession – a college professor. Three people noted the newspaper. Two spoke of the arts. Luggage is well mentioned. His intellect is at the fore and also his wealth which is assumed by his clothes. Shakespeare is said to have written “apparel oft proclaims the man” but then there is a Proverb, “clothes don’t make the man.” Completely different ways to look at the same thing.
Everyone in the project sees the subject a little differently. Of particular interest to me is the notation about the shoe laces being too large and also to say that the book appears transparent. It makes me realize that if possible in our lives we should interact more with others – workmates, neighbors and even our best friends and relatives. It is only by opening our minds and listening that we see the true character of a person. May we be transparent to each other, just as the book appears to one of the writers.