Wednesday 23 December 2015

Welcome To Maltby (Part 1)



Welcome

https://www.facebook.com/groups/752476011436371/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/521489177985355/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltby,_South_Yorkshire



Ian Everton

*****

On 7th August 2015, Dr Nigel Leigh Oldfield returned to his home, of over two years, after a shopping trip to Sheffield and Rotherham.

Having done this, many times before, there was something amiss, as he approached the seating, for the buses to Maltby from Rotherham bus station. A young male, jumped from the seats, as Nigel approached, clearly exaggerating the sudden identification. Nigel has always been attuned to human behaviour and this was no different, but, as with many things, tiredness and awareness can invoke lack of care or overreaction; back to the smartphone.

As Nigel sat, passing away the waiting minutes for the bus to arrive, he waited until the end of the queue, as he often does, so that his shopping need not be carried too far and he could take his rightful seat as a wise elder.

A week, or so, earlier, Nigel had assisted two young women, who were afraid of one or two inebriated chaps, who were to share the bus with them. Although he could recall the face of one of the girls, he could not recall that of the other.

There on the bus of the 7th, the face of a young woman was looking at him - it was not one of obvious disgust, but one of recognition and apparent fear; was it one of warning or of misplaced trepidation? We will never know. During the journey, to Maltby, Nigel would see this glance a number of times, from the girl.

The bus was busy, and stowing baggage, Nigel hooked his arm around the front supports, steadying himself until the bus started to empty, during its longish journey. He stood next to a vocal young woman in her mid-20s.

Her associates were the young man from the earlier seat event and a similarly-aged, young, woman. Both females were on smartphones, there was a female infant in a pram, a male infant in a pram and two older boys.

As the numbers dwindled, on the bus, a seat became vacant next to the younger woman; Nigel sat.

The conversations of the three consisted of the expected and usual trivia and inaneness, of such simple folk. Throughout the journey, smartphones were passed, to-and-fro, and as Maltby approached, joking references began to arise within the group, along the lines of "that is your house, no that is yours" etc, again, inane banter, to be ignored.

There was some discussion, about walking to the shop, as the penultimate stop approached, but, in a rapid, last minute decision, the young woman decided to alight and bundle her brood and acquaintances with her. She made it clear and loud that the unprammed were to stay near to her.

Along with their obvious and continued interest, once off the bus, loud bells were now clanging, even though there had not been any overt aggression or reference to Nigel; things were not 'normal', but it had been a good day and Nigel was sanguine.

Nigel was almost always the last off the bus, at the 'terminus', and leaving and thanking the driver, he made the short walk to his home. In the dark, turning the corner, to face the rear of his house, he usually expected to see windows smashed or 'nonce', or its like, daubed on the exterior white walls; this warm evening, it was to be the case, at least in spirit and, partly, in reality.

*****

Continued in Part 2.

Dr Nigel Leigh Oldfield reserves the right to correct, amend and alter this post, when, and how, he sees fit.

What Is Wrong With This Picture - Apart From The Wrong'Un?




To follow.