Nine Seventeen

Huddled in Burton's doorway, head down, the windblown rain at almost forty five degrees soaking me from the knees downwards. Reflecting on the paving, the red, amber and green from the traffic lights heralded a wave of white from passing headlights, like theatre curtains opening. And centre stage stood I. The clock at Samuel's jeweller said nine seventeen. I thought I blended in well- the tailor's dummies in the windows either side of me, equally well dressed, stared vacantly into a dark alien world. I envied them. They were dry. And not waiting on a first date. A quick glance up. The clock said nine seventeen. They say that time slows down when you're idle, or impatient, and I was starting to bow to this unproven scientific truth. Two pretty girls strode past beneath a mangled umbrella, one briefly threw a smile my way, almost lost in a giggle. I counted my twentieth chorus of red, amber and green. It was nine seventeen. She said she'd be here for nine. I looked at my watch. Ten O'clock. The bells of the Guildhall and the Cathedral smugly agreed, H. Samuel had been lying all along. The rain had stopped. I stepped out into the throng of couples, dressed in my singleness, as the girls with the broken umbrella, now discarded, approached. No giggles- she gave the same smile, but her eyes knew my plight, then she shrugged. I found a bar and sat in damp trousers with a beer, and watched the big screen to take my mind off a wasted evening. The rugby was just finishing. God does have a sense of humour, England beating France- Seventeen points to nine. 25th June 2018 For contest 'nine seventeen', sponsor John Lawless