OUR WAY OUT 210111

A regular gets in on his regular floor on the way down. It took long enough to come up to me. Two stops, extended for ‘goodbyes.’
He looked at me before getting in and standing at the front on the right. He nodded, I raised my eyebrows.
‘I’d be alright,’ he said, ‘if I wasn’t so broke.’
I laughed but nervous, ‘Shit, don’t tap me I the lift.’ I don’t give to anyone in the flats or who I know or think lives there if they ask me outside.
‘You off for a beer?’ he said.
‘Coffee,’ I said, smiling.
‘Expensive,’ he said.
.It’s my one vice,’ I said, lying.
‘Oh,’ pause, ‘I suppose with all these cafes around,’ a nod towards Broadmead.
‘I go around here,’ I said.
‘Still,’ he said, ‘expensive.’
‘I’m getting out,’ I said, ‘and it’s somewhere to spend an hour or two.’
‘It’s good to get out,’ he said. I didn’t think he was trying to reassure me. ‘Especially if you don’t work,’ he said, ‘like I don’t.’
He held the doors open for me on our way out.