After 2 replacement buses, and a train, I found myself on my second train of the day - but not my last - from Littlehampton to Southampton when I was joined by a couple of unlikely companions who quickly introduced themselves as Peter and Julie as the sat at the table opposite me, might I add at this point that they were heavily under the influence of alcohol.
Reaching into a Co-op bag, Peter pulled out a bottle of own brand Cava and poured into a couple of mismatched glasses. Classy, I thought. He went on to offer me a drink from the smaller of the two wine glasses, I politely declined, he insisted, I was obliged to accept. I sipped from the glass and he vigorously refilled, keen to keep his new friend happy.
I noted that the liquid offered to me was a distinctly different hue from the one consumed by the jolly couple opposite me, but I sipped away regardless. My middle class upbringing knows better than to question anything suspicious, especially if it might cause offence to anyone, no mater how much I may suspect a situation.
Their conversation took them off into their own world, I snatched snippets from eavesdropping, guessing that Julie had gone through a bereavement, Peter had helped her through. What a fine gent he was turning out to be.
Out of their world they came, enquiring as to my reason for travel; was it to see a special person? Julie ventured. No, came my reply, I had just left a special person - I was travelling back home. Peter quickly insinuated that I was a homosexual, asking who he was, I met this assumptions with scorn, but emitted a polite laugh and put him right, he seemed unfazed. Perhaps he was not such a stand-up chap...
From what I gathered, Julie worked in a Post Office, she was adamant on the fact she 'worked with people, with the public'. I fear she was an underachiever, slightly ashamed of her position, but I looked upon her favourably, she was a friendly character.
The questionable Peter left his occupation unknown, not wishing to divulge me any information, he joked his job was not in medicine, but this fact I assumed quickly anyway.
The two seemed happen in each other's company, occasionally turning to me for an outlet of conversation, but quickly returning to the other's face for attention. Soon we reached their stop and I bid them cheers and goodnight as Peter, once again, refilled my glass. A brief wave sufficed as a 'goodbye forever' as the train pulled away, and our excursion together was over.
I went on my merry way to another 90 minutes of travel, before finally finding my bed at midnight. Not before seeing what has to be the largest orange skin I have ever seen. My foot is used here for perspective. Please note, none of this mess is mine, I was merely a spectator of this squalor.
No comments:
Post a Comment