Our walk to school is fairly pleasant. We wander along over the grass at the end of the road, past the houses with HUGE numbers, under the weeping willow and to the steps which lead to the train station and the snicket which goes to school.
Every other day on the steps, sitting next to THE poo tree, 3rd step up to be exact, there is a man. He is old and looks unkempt, like he smokes and drinks too much. He wears a tatty sheepskin coat rain or shine. Usually smoking he looks out of breath and clutches an empty shopping bag.
Our eyes always meet and I always smile.
Every other day he’s there.
… and every other day when the 5 year old reaches the 6th step she turns to me and says in her loud foghorn voice …
“Mum, that man is there again. He just … sits. Why is he ALWAYS there?”
and when I get to the 8th step I always hope the old unkempt man who is ALWAYS there is VERY deaf.
8 Comments on "Sitting next to the poo tree …"
Sorry ’bout that. But I ENJOY sitting on me step next to the poo tree.
I thought I recognised you. You could at least say Hello as we pass!
What’s a snicket? Seems i have lived a shelterd life as i have never heard the word before???
Ginnel/snicket – An alley or alleyway is a narrow, pedestrian lane found in urban areas which usually run between or behind buildings. In older cities and towns in Europe, alleys are often what is left of a medieval street network, or a right of way or ancient footpath in an urban setting. In older urban development, alleys were built to allow for deliveries such as coal to the rear of houses. Alleys may be paved, or simply dirt tracks. Blind alleys have no outlet at one end and are thus a cul-de-sac.
I saw the word ‘poo’ on my blog roll and I just had to come on in… bu there’s no poo so I’m gonna click on the poo link instead!! Obsessed? Me? No, no, no…
I hope he is very dressed underneath that coat. Here in the US they’d be running his ass off the school grounds!
Nice use of a poo reference. Also, I’ve never seen the world snicket used in a blog before. Respect!
I have to admit I was torn … snicket or ginnel?
I grew up with a ginnel, husband grew up with a snicket.