I started this piece after having read something on a website and developing a desire to have a go myself. I didn't think much of this when I first wrote it and left it, but having a Sunday to myself (when I say to myself, I mean having the living room to myself and everyone else asleep) I took the chance to read it again. I don't think I've finished it yet, but we'll see what I can do with it in the future.
Placing her hand on the cool metal of the bolted clasp on the front door and pulling back, Josefa felt the weight of the door as it swung open. The air was brisk, the sky was clear with slight hints of rain spattered across its perfection and the tree in the driveway had made pointless the five pounds her mother had spent the day before on cleaning the car, giving the metallic smooth surface, a red mosaic style look; pretty, but a huge inconvenience to when driving.
Smiling at the energy she felt rising within her as she stepped out into the cool sun, Josefa pulled the door to and her winter coat further around her small figure. She made her way to the front of the driveway and turned right towards the green round the corner from her home.
Although the day was clear, Josefa couldnÂt help thinking she wasnÂt built for this kind of chill and pulled the scarf in a neater, more protective fashion around her neck to prevent the sharp wind which had suddenly picked up sliding icy fingers through any possible gaps, reaching her throat and freezing her to the bone. She heard loud, coarse laughter and turned automatically to locate the source from the other side of the road. She couldnÂt help but watch as two mini skirt and short jacketed girls walked towards the bus stop, chattering both their gossip and teeth as another, just as sharp as the previous wind, picked up and fluttered their short cropped, pink skirts. She saw one girl instinctively pull her stylish yet thin fur rimmed coat further around her and raise her hood up over her bleached locks. Her friend seemed oblivious to the cold, Josefa guessing that a few fast food joints had helped in that department, as she continued to discuss the text messages she had received from Craig in an extra loud voice and whether she should see him again that evening or go with Jad, the bloke from the pub last night. Josefa shook her head in wonder and continued towards the green. She saw a man in his late thirties leaning against the wall in front of her with a peculiar look on his face, watching the girls, either leering or laughing at them. She couldnÂt ascertain. Probably both. As she walked past him, the smell of second hand smoke and too much aftershave hit her nostrils and she barely concealed a wince. She wasnÂt a big fan of aftershave in the first place, believing it to cover the true scent of the body. To her it was just camouflage of the true self next to the delicate smell of bathroom soaps and talcum powder as used when she was younger. She didnÂt mind aftershave, but there was a difference between a few drops and use of the entire bottle in one sitting.
She reciprocated the little attention they gave her and finally reached the Green. The grass vibrated juicily against the early afternoon, autumn sun. Taking a small moment for herself, she stopped and stood near one of the benches welded to the ground. She took in the golden brown of the leaves, some still stable, strong and triumphant on the trees, and others on the floor, fallen for the winter, having gracefully accepted that their time was up. She instinctively took a deep breath in and couldnÂt help the smile which crept across her lips. It smelt clean, refreshing and incredibly invigorating. She enjoyed the sensation of cleanliness in the air for a brief moment until a dragon like roar filled the air as the 65 bus pulled up next to the pedestrians waiting impatiently in the cold, the air next to her filling with the buses fumes and loud music being played from a phone, IPod or whatever as a young, solitary teenager emerged from the bus and made his way to the residential houses.
She continued on her way and a few minutes later was queuing for a ticket. As she reached the machine, and pulled out her purse, a young man approached her.
Âspare change for the train loveÂ
I only need 1 quid 20 pence more. I need to get one of these trains soon. Please?Â
She stood still for a moment, taking in his appearance. She tried to avoid giving money to people who requested it in the streets as she hated to think she was helping them slowly kill themselves with drugs and alcohol. She preferred to think she was giving it for a better cause. However, this gentleman had something different about him. She couldnÂt quite put her finger on it, but he seemed genuine. Finally, she rooted around in her purse, whilst he stood there singing her praise (Âoh thatÂs great love, thank you so muchÂ) and a little smiled crept along her lips as she watched him walk away towards another ticket machine slightly out of sight.
Having purchased her ticket, she crossed the station to the closest newsagents to purchase a newspaper. After a few minutes, she emerged, her head down, reading about the latest victim of societyÂs criminal issue.
ÂSpare change pleaseÂ
I only need 2 quid to get backÂ
and I have to get one of these next few trains or IÂm done.Â
She looked up in surprise and saw the young man, once again, begging for money from a business man who looked as if heÂd been wiped with something deeply unpleasant just through having this stranger talk to him. Seeing him from another point of view, as an onlooker herself, not the target, she suddenly noticed the drawn cheeks, the semi closed eyes of being unable to focus, and the very slight shaking of the hand he held out. Josefa bristled at the thought that should just assisted another man to reach his next shot, alcoholic disguise of the world or whatever the hell it was he needed to keep himself from going insane. She must have felt Âcaught in the moment as the young man spoke to her, having always felt slightly nerved when a stranger spoke to her regarding money (possible effect of the media?) and gave him the money as an automatic action to rid herself of him. She had felt slightly more relived when he left. In truth, though, watching the Ârich man and the peasantÂ, Josefa wasnÂt sure who she felt more frustrated by: the beggar who desired assistance from his fellow man to help him get his next drug induced state or the snobbish business man who looked upon his fellow citizen as though he were worth less than the substance on the bottom of his Gucci loafers.
Unsure of how to regard the situation, she gave a small grunt and turned away from the view, making her way to the tube entrance.
The train rocked and swayed, forcing passengers aboard her dusky hulk to further adjust their footing and inconvenience others by treading on their personal space before being thrown across the train carriage and causing even worse problems. This was some train driverÂ
Josefa looked around at the dull, pallid expressions on everyoneÂs faces and forced herself to look at the most bright and attractive poster on the train (an insurance advertÂ
ironic?) so as not to fall down into the depth of sullenness with the rest of her carriage companions.
The train heaved its way through the dark, dank tube line tunnels and the more experienced train passengers reinforced their grips on whatever they were holding as they felt the train heave under the pressure of slowing speed and trying not to overpass the mark on the rails.
With a great jolt, the train ceased all movement, causing many apologies to float through the air as passenger after passenger knocked into each other. After a particularly uncomfortable moment in which all stood in silence, the train doors strained open. Everyone jostled, trying to create a greater convenience for those getting off the train and for themselves once they had gone. Two more passengers came on; a mother and her baby, the mother demonstrating signs of delighted new parent taking baby for its daily travels, baby looking particularly satisfied at itÂs comfortable mobile chair, then slight mystification as to why there were suddenly so many people in front of it, looking at him with either great indifference or broody coos. Several seated passengers, suspecting what was expected of them, bowed their heads and avoided eye contact. One of the slightly more responsibly and kindly passengers stood aside and allowed mother to place baby pushchair into the corner against the glass for her and everyone elseÂs comfort. Another passenger offered her seat, allowing mother to take place in her now vacant place. The mother smiled softly and gave them her appreciation.
Josefa watched. A little smile playing on her lips, her heart warmed at the appearance of such a cuddly happy baby. As the train continued on its way, Josefa, along with one or two other passengers watched the baby with mild curiousity. The baby began making signals that only the mother could understand as she began to coo and reach into her bag. From there, Josefa was surprised and somewhat disturbed to witness a packet of puffy cheese crisps and a bottle of coke emerge. Josefa tried to convince herself, they must have been for the mother clearly. But no, the packet was opened and a large crisp was given to the baby, who took it in its chubby hands, gurgling in delight and instantly crammed the treat into his mouth. After that the mother assisted the baby in a quick sip of coke.
Josefa, unable to take any more looked in the other direction, but could still quite clearly hear the baby nibbling on the fatty, salty snack with great delight.
