Walking home from University after picking up some mail and parcels. Three fragments of conversation provided, if not food for thought, then at least a glimpse into alternative worldviews; on reflection, a triptych that shows the laughable and the likeable, the acceptable and the less acceptable sides of life in a town which has the kinds of problems that have no easy answers.
The world according to Paisley……
1. Two women are having a shouted conversation across the High Street. One of them has a birthday and is lamenting her fading looks. A car slows down and stops for the traffic light, cutting off vision and speech. Provokes the non-birthday wumman who shouts "Heh pal! Can ye move yur caur. We're hivin a conversation here!"
Sensible driver didn't make eye contact……
2. Three lassies taking up the pavement three abreast, all multi-tasking – talking, chewing gum, and texting. As they passed (or at least as I stood aside to let them pass, cos they weren't for breaking formation – you could just tell), I heard the intriguing story fragment, delivered with automatic pistol speed and threat, "Aye but ma mither says she'll batter his mither if he disnae."
If he disnae what, I wondered. And how do they do that – walk, talk, chew and text in a display of skilful synchronised nonchalance?
3. Nearly home when a young guy, I guess third or fourth year from the Grammar, comes up smiles pleasantly and asks, 'Would you mind going intae that shop and getting me fags?" Had to decline, gently and courteously, and he said, "Aye nae worries, Need tae chuck it onyway".
Wish he'd asked me to do something I could have done – nice big lad just trying to work out his problems like the rest of us.
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