John's Cafe. Spring morning, 1984.

Sun streaming through the window, must have been about ten a.m. no one else in the place, too late for breakfast, too early for lunch, the gang out grafting. Woman sitting in that seat, the one all alone at a angle to the shop, small table and the single chair, seen her before , never bothered, spent her time staring at the wall.

Read my paper, chewed my egg and chips while mulling over the politics as put out by those who know so much more than us plebeians.

Tony with the beard breezed in .. always in a terrible hurry about life, completely overwhelmed by anything female. Plunked himself down other side of my table, ordered his food, clapping his hands, rubbing them together, beaming at everything and anyone.. especially the woman in the corner. "Hello Sue" Nudged me, winked "all right then ?" knowing Tony, he would stand up, simply drop his trousers such is his way of greeting females.. Makes no bones about his approach. Dapper, I imagine would cover him.. always a clean collar, tie suit, maybe overcoat.. such a well meaning, helpful person. Unfortunately not the slightest business acumen, almost without saying .. has the most fearful, dominating wife. His overwhelming attitude in this large room with us, simply a reaction to "her indoors". Most sad, yet what else? Without such a woman, he would probably be a nothing. She tells him precisely what to do and when to do it. He told me a story.. how he went out of his very smart house one morning, ten minutes later, realised forgotten something, went back in time to see his wife getting into a car with a young man. Tony, evidently completely ignored that situation, feasibly because his brain could not handle it, too engrossed in getting money for a new this or a new that.. currently, a Citroen car and a fitted kitchen.

She had given him his instructions.. when he was to have earned the money by.. not to bother her in the meantime. Once she had visited the Cafe.. checking him out, had sat down exactly where he was now sitting, without any hesitation, asked me how much Tony was earning? and how much time "Did he waste in this place?" looking about disdainfully. The clothes on her back alone, must have cost a bomb.. not taking into account the rotten precocious kid (at private school naturally) and her son by a previous marriage Tony was also maintaining...Cab drivers!!