A group of four; two young men, one in a wheel chair, a woman
of indeterminate age and their carer, wait for the lift which will take us from
the train platform to the concourse. When
I join the group the young woman fixes her attention on me and I sense she is eager
to start a conversation.
I am not wrong.
‘Merry Christmas.’ she exclaims, holding out her hand to
shake mine. Her smile and enthusiasm are
infectious and I can’t resist laughing as I shake her hand. She produces an unused coffee cup with a Christmas
illustration on it and points out Santa.
We talk about what a great fellow Santa is and then a momentary pause
follows in the conversation.
The next question is about where I am going and I say I am
on my way to the hospital. In reply to
her question about why I am going to the hospital I say they are going to see
what is wrong with me.
At this point the
carer interrupts the conversation and tells Rita she is asking me a personal question. Rita quite clearly understands personal questions and this caution from the carer puts paid to our conversation.
The lift arrives, we travel to the concourse; the group head
off to their home and I walk in the opposite direction to the tram which will
take me to the hospital.
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