Dismal, black damp

Wed, April 26
Awaken in advance of the alarm clock, shower, and dress. so simple. It is dark outside, and it Is tommy. • The cat wants affection, and attention,

The eat is purring, and happy.
The honour is not. Dissatisfied. Alone.

Out to the street, it is raining hard. The yellow waste bags in front of all the houses today. All is dark and glistening, and

There is no

- joy today. Not that there is ever any great pleasure in the morning. Unfurl the small blue umbrelly. and cross the streets, pass the church. There is no wish for nearness, voices are rough. unpleasant. The voices of men talking at the bus stop, the impatience of the bus driver. Dolores, sodden wet, shivering in the bus shelter. The lights in the hotel breakfast rooms. where the business mans breakfasts are being prepared.

The railway station cafe is being altered, plasterboard, partitions are being erected, dividing the once-spacious serving area. Maybe there is more traffic in the station now, perhaps there is more money to he made with an extra shop. It has reduced the cafes to a rather poky, unpleasant place, dark and tight.

There are many people about, mainly men, some with voices roughened, loud coarsened by alcohol and cigarettes. Some are obviously suffering, few are happy. All are dressed in damp dark clothes, rain- wet hair, All, many more than a year ago.

Coffee from a blond polish women today, her name is that way, the name display on her name tag.

The other girl accepts every order and then Sayes "Alles?". Sounds like" Alice". But it means 'will that he all?"

Leave the-now-depressing place with the cup of coffee in hand, the Rosenheim Diesel train is just coming in.

Realise that this person is just another shadow among shadows.

A shadow the substance and cause of which can only be seen unclearly, distantly. A grey thing with diffuse motives.