Thrown forward in my seat as the bus drew to an abrupt halt, so my eyes met a boy on the other side of the window, wearing school uniform, standing at the edge of the pavement holding onto his scooter, waiting to safely cross the road.

He stared at me, almost mesmerized, as I continued to bite into my nearly ripe banana.

I was eating healthily. I was snatching some "on-the-go" breakfast. Why the look, though? Why did he take such apparent notice? I could only think he was unable to relate the banana to my age or eating such a thing on a bus, perhaps?

What would our days transpire to be like? I found myself wondering, he at school and myself at work? For certain, each was likely to learn something today. Each coud hope to anticipate in and was likely to participate in some playful moments and each would have a lunch break to look forward to.

As my journey to work proceeded from the next bus stop, my attention transferred to a woman assertively heading towards me wearing a black beret and a black short length blazer. What captured me the most about her, was her heavy floral-lace tights that led to a pair of turn-up denim shorts that conflicted with her heavy powdered face, bright lips and sagging jawline, each facial feature providing clues to her age. As she took a seat, her distinctive pure white, link strapped watch on her left wrist made me glance further to a wide contemporary silver band upon her marital figure. Both wrists were like a walking advertisement for Accessorize as her bracelets jangled with her every movement.

My daily lone read had become intermittent as I continued to observe this passenger who was clearly oblivious to the cold weather and could only see the stream of early springtime sunlight.

My banana was by now demolished...
I returned to my "read-of-the-week"
and 10th novel of this year, by Author
& according to newspaper,Independent on Sunday,
"Master Storyteller" Patrick Gale;
title "The Whole Day Through",
described as a bittersweet love story.

I was busy quenching a long-term curiosity to read a romantic novel by a male author.... to page 211 and only 2 more gripping chapters to go, with my destination approaching far too quickly!