Dirk sat at his favourite table by the window in Rosy Bowers’ Tea Room. He looked out and could see the Tower Bridge framed by the window. His thoughts travelled to the atrocities that had apparently happened in the Tower of London during England’s chequered history.
Movement outside the window attracted his attention. A well-dressed man was gesticulating violently. A policeman held tightly onto a struggling urchin.
Dirk couldn’t hear what was being said, but he presumed it was a typical case of pick pocketing. As he watched the drama unfold, he was amazed at how immune he was after seeing all the violence in his profession. This display left him cold but not completely unattached.
The well-dressed man had taken a voluminous hanky out of his top pocket and was patting his perspiring face with his right hand as his left hand gesticulated wildly.
Dirk glanced at the policeman and the urchin, who was still struggling fiercely. Suddenly the urchin twisted and kicked the policeman in a place that really mattered. Startled, the policeman released his hold enough for the urchin to escape.
Dirk’s composure didn’t change. He picked up his teacup and drained the contents, plonked some money on the table, gathered his bits and bobs, and left.
© Vera Alexander
No comments:
Post a Comment