|
The first odour of deodorant comes faintly, signifying the start of a battle that will last all day, between modern science and nature's cooling system. Summer at last, on the twenty-fourth day of July, 1980. A train enters
West Norwood Station, incredibly two minutes eighteen seconds early, causing
the first skirmish of the day to go to Mother Nature and her cooling system
as the young man runs for the privilege of entering the relative fresh-cool-air
sanctuary of a no-smoking carriage. Next to him in the carriage is the
(to him) mysterious chocolate-skinned beauty, to whom he will soon speak
in a rare example of bravado, out of At Streatham Hill Station, an ex-colonel, old-school-tie City gent (who works in an office but by rights should have several years of state and company pension behind him) enters the carriage and sits opposite the young man, his bloodhound eyes glancing around at the more sparingly clad women. However, his brief reconnaissance of the chocolate-skinned beauty suggests deeply held nationalistic beliefs. |
character with his
natural yet oddly appealing shyness.|
|
