Friday, August 07, 2009
Can I borrow your pen?
Last night on the train home, I was trying as ever to complete the Soduko puzzle in the London Lite. I gave up, put my pen away and fished out my iPod to play a game or two of patience.
Then I noticed the guy across the aisle was trying to get my attention.
“Can I borrow your pen?” he asked. He was clutching a mobile phone and a newspaper. I assumed he needed a pen to write down a phone number or something like that.
“Sure,” I answered and passed it over. It’s not a greatly valuable pen - I bought it as part of a pack of 10 I found in a shop in Kowloon – but I like it. It’s small enough to fit in my trouser pocket without stabbing me when I sit down.
The guy took the pen and then started to work on a WordSearch puzzle in the paper.
I was a bit perturbed by this. Should I say something at this blatant cheek?
I did the British thing and kept quiet although I did leave one of my headphones out of my ear. Quite what good that would do, I don’t know. Perhaps I was worried he would start eating my pen or make a quick get-away at the next station.
All was resolved when he found the WordSearch as difficult as my Soduko and gave my pen back a few minutes later.
Labels: Cheek, Passengers, Train