MURPHY'S LAW APPLIED
One of those days = anything that can go wrong will
But why do these things happen to me?
Have I got the sort of face that these things happen to?
Have I got the sort of face that some people seem to want to hit
with a shovel? (don't answer that!)
I guess the clues were there and I should have realised at the
beginning that the portents weren't good!
My bus stop was cordoned off for road works but I spotted there was
a free standing bus stop sign round the corner on the verge. I should maybe
have realised it was going to be 'one of
those days' when a man in a 'Highways Maintenance' van pulled up and he
took the bus stop sign threw it in the back and started walking back to the
cab. I asked
'Er excuse me
should I continue to wait here or is the bus stop back open?'
No reply was forthcoming . . .
'Er exCUSE me! Is there a bus stop still
here? . . . . '
The driver did not acknowledge me and got in his van and promptly drove
off.
Now witness to this had been two Chinese lads who appeared really
confused by this behaviour. It having taken them some moments to work out there
wasn't room for the buses to stop where they would usually wait, only to come
round the corner to see someone taking the bus stop sign away! I did my best to
reassure them and having checked the electronic display informed them a bus for
town would be coming any minute as it was marked "DUE"
They smiled uncomfortably at being spoken to by a stranger but sure
enough a town bus hove into view and they smiled at me with nervous relief. I
was waiting for the hospital buses and so stood there somewhat longer. . . .
When my bus arrived I flagged it down there being no bay or indeed
any stop sign anymore and had an agreeable and amusing chat with the driver
about where the sign had gone and what did I think!
But I guess the whole thing should have been a sign as to what was
further to come . . . . . .
Having had my appointment at the hospital which was less than
satisfactory and rather frustrating, I was happy to immediately get on a return
bus straight away some hour later than the time of my appointment. It was raining
heavily by now. The bus oddly was packed!
I walk with a stick now if I have to cover any distance and was
comforted to see one of the disabled seats was free, it suits my back and I let
my stick nestle against me and it may have disappeared against my scarf, I now
think with hind sight . . . . I should perhaps say I am not registered disabled
but have a back condition that is troublesome and have been walking with a
stick now for some several years as it helps over any certain distance.
A tall imperious looking gentleman and his wife got on the bus stop
in The John Radcliffe hospital and walked up to where I was sitting on the
right hand side where there are flop down seats so that pushchairs can be
accommodated. I had chosen to sit there earlier as there was a free space and
then a lady with three children got in the opposite side of the aisle to
accommodate her buggy.
The couple stalked towards me. Their body language was such that
they looked like they wanted to sit where I was, his face gurning a little,
tutting as he realised perhaps where they had sat on their way there was now
occupied but the gentleman sat directly at my knees in the seat that required
pulling the flat seat down and his lady wife sat next to me. After waiting for
the bus to pull away the gentleman looked at me several times and I could see
out of the corner of my eye as he eyed me up and down. He had a middle class
military bearing wearing expensive 'country style' clothing, navy blue Army
style sweater, corduroy trousers and sensible shoes, she was suitably matching
in a long skirt and camel coloured sweater with a silk scarf about her head and
neck. Eventually he turned to look at me again and said
"You know you really
shouldn't sit there if you are not disabled."
To which I said
'Excuse me?'
And he repeated the statement to which I responded
"I'm sorry are you speaking to me?"
He answered me
"Yes, I'm saying you really shouldn't be taking up a seat for
the disabled if you are younger and able bodied"
In a split second I thought and found myself replying "And how
do you know I'm not? Disabled that is?"
He responded, a little startled perhaps to be challenged
"Well are you?"
To which I found myself saying, in a bad mood and not willing to
continue the argument
"Well that's really none of your business is it?! Nor is my age
come to that and how do you know how old I am?!"
He seemed cross now and replied
"Well it is my business and I am making it my business to ask
you" when asked
'Why?'
He replied as I had thought
"Well my wife and I wanted to sit there"
I paused for a moment, "And are YOU registered disabled
then?"
He seemed flustered and was going a little red in the face and said
"Well that's not really the point but you saw us get on at the
hospital! YOU didn't get on at the hospital! And I am merely pointing out it
would have been a courtesy to let us have the disabled seats."
'Where I got on the bus is none of your business is it?' I replied'
besides one of you has got the seat in question" to which his wife piped
up
"John, just leave it!"
Now this sounded like a tone that there was too much of 'a fuss' and
an impending fight over a seat and that I was in someway being a hooligan or in
the wrong, where I do not believe I was. I inched my walking stick forward and
toyed with it as I do, twirling it around in my thumb and forefinger. He spied
it as I believe did she.
I paused and said
"I got on the bus at the Churchill Hospital not that it has
anything to do with you! . . . and I believe I have every right to sit here and
if you wish to make something of it I suggest you take the matter up with the
driver!"
I let the silence speak for itself as the rest of the bus by now had
sensed the awkwardness and gone quieter. It was still quite busy. The couple
having noticed my stick I think, stayed quiet but suddenly stood up and she
said 'Come on dear' and they got up and proceeded to sit behind me as a chap
got off rising from that seat at his stop.
Now the next thing that happened illustrates the differences in the
class system and my own prejudices being put to task I guess because of course
I was sat there quietly fuming, going over the disagreement in my mind as to
how I might have handled it better when this gentlemen in a wheelchair and his
lady wife got on at the last stop in the hospital grounds and sidled their
large chair into the space in front of me where the flop down seats were and
his wife sat next to me, I smiled at them and they had quite a palaver to fit
the chair in but all was well, they smiled back and she seemed especially
friendly, if he looked a tad tired and it was a miserable rainy day. He sat in
his waterproofs and with his large black footwear, the type of shoes I have
seen diabetes sufferers wear. She pulled down the hood of his waterproofs and I
could see with great care and affection making him comfortable. She touched the
back of her hand to his cheek and he smiled wanly. Suddenly a voice popped up
that I recognised, it was the first gentlemen making an observation from the
seat behind
"Now there's an opportunity if ever the was one to get up and
make way for someone less fortunate than yourself!"
The lady sat next to me glanced at me and appeared to summarise the
situation in a split second, quickly replied
"No, no, . . . no need - we are all quite happy
here!"
The gentleman in the wheelchair opened his tired eyes and looked at
all concerned and then made eye contact with me and smiled the most lovely
smile. They continued their journey with little private conversation to each
other and little billings and cooing between them and I gathered he was a
professor and she was clearly his wife and we had a pleasant journey forward,
despite the rain and the packed bus, the entire atmosphere changed and the
hullabaloo of background chatter resumed.
The only people to stay quiet, were the couple behind me . . . . .
.although I did occasionally hear muttering and grumbling, I couldn't make out
any words except perhaps the occasional 'No!' or once a terse 'Can't you just
leave it!?"
I smiled to myself as they eventually got off in North Oxford
opposite Marks And Spencer.
