Brief Encounter . .

I find it quite intriguing how we are able to somehow sense an atmosphere such as aggression without any obvious clues.

Sometime ago I’d gone into a café in the village. I’d picked up a newspaper en route so I settle down with my Americano, my crossword and a newly sharpened pencil. As I was battling with a particularly tricky clue, I could send something. There was palpable tension in the air. Apart from myself. there was only one other customer;’ a man sitting on the other side of the room who looked somewhat agitated. I wondered whether he was getting impatient waiting for his breakfast or was his coffee cold or was he just a grumpy person? I continued with my puzzle but could still sense tension in the air.

Once I’d finished my coffee and my puzzle, I stood up ready to leave. At this point the other customer hurried over and said, rather accusingly ‘Have you finished with the paper now?’ I replied ‘No I brought this with me.’There was a moment of silence which seemed to last forever, in which the penny dropped for both of us. He was under the impression that I was hogging the café’s copy of the paper. After another long pause, he saw the funny side and apologised, and we’ve been friends ever since.

It’s a funny old world.