28 October 2012
'Only a few more miles' he told himself. He had been driving for longer than he should have and for once, a vile coffee at the motorway services seemed an attractive option. After what seemed like an eternity he reached the slip road and he gratefully slowed down and drove into the car park.
The services were as grim as usual. He travelled all over the country and he had grown to hate these places. Today he had the misfortune of encountering a hen night from Newcastle cackling and cursing as they huddled in the doorway smoking Lambert and Butler. He squeezed through them trying not to inhale the cheap perfume and cigarette smoke. 'Excuse me' he said politely. 'I'd excuse you for anything pet' one of them replied and they all laughed making him feel distinctly uncomfortable. He managed to get through them with his honour intact and walked up to the counter and ordered a coffee. He dealt with the barrage of questions that seem to accompany a simple request for coffee these days. He paid and took his drink down some steps, right to the end of the walkway and as far away as possible from the Newcastle hens.
He sat and put his head in his hands. He was so tired but still had a few more hours of driving ahead of him. This was going to be a long day.
Worlds Apart PtIV • Opuss № I