RANDOM REMINDER

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32234, 28 February 1970, Page 21

RANDOM REMINDER

HUMBLE PIE

If ever an innocent man was a victim of cruel circumstance, it was the one on the bank of the Avon one recent lunch hour. He went there to enjoy his lunch in the sunshine. He came away hungry, humiliated. and determined never to go back there again. It has long been his habit to eat a couple of sausages and drink a glass of beer at a nearby hotel, then, from a shop close by, purchase some sandwiches and have them on the

river-bank, with scores of others out in the bright weather. On this occasion the sandwiches he bought were his favourites—steak and kidney. He had only Just sat down when he heard his name called. There across the river was a young lady, but our hero did not recognise her, because he does not enjoy the very best of sight. So he got up and walked nearer, to meet her. As he came closer, he still failed to recognise her, for the very

good reason that he had never seen her before. It was clear, too, that she regarded his greeting, delivered before he was properly in focus, none toe kindly. She was there, itbecame apparent, to throw some crusts to the ducks. Shamefaced, he made his way back to his lunch. But all he found was the merry laughter of others sitting nearby, and the flutter of wings as the last of the seagulls made off with the last of his sandwiches.