Fair Trade

Went to my home town at the weekend. Went out drinking in the city centre with friends I was at school with. We met at the station and joked about going into town on the train when we were 17 because we stopped being served at the local.

" Nice of Britsh Rail to give us a lift into town for free", I said - referring to the fact that no one had asked us for a ticket. " We should have got a return", said my mate.

A minute later a ragged looking drunk man was shouting "Oi you! Stop! Come back here!" to the same friend. We kept on walking. "What was that about?" I said. " I think he saw me shifting my wallet from my back pocket" said the friend.

An hour later I was introduced to a man I hadn't met before. I had once been frineds with his cousin. He described with puffed out chest his pride in being acknowledged for carrying on the family business. I remembered that under different circumstances that could have been me. He'd been drinking longer than us and talked non stop - but I loved the guts and integrity of what he said.

Three hours later I felt like I had known this man all my life as we chatted to a table of women - one of whom was the sister of one of my friends.

We had chips on the way home. I handed mine to one of my mates as I had a pee. I lost my hooded top in the pub - but it was a fair trade.