(Today’s story is a true incident that happened to a school friend 53 years ago).
Tony was waiting for a bus just outside the gates of Parliament. (This is long before the days when life was complicated). He’d been to town, from boarding school, to see the dentist. As all teenage boys find, he was hungry and so he had bought some fish and chips. For those not in the know, fish and chips are French fries and a piece of fish fried in batter. All is wrapped in newspaper. (This is long before the days when printer’s ink rubbed off).
There was only one other person sitting in the bus stop waiting. He was an old man, and Tony felt a bit sorry for him.
“Would you like a chip?” asked Tony, offering the goodies wrapped in newspaper. The old man accepted gratefully.
“Do you work?” asked Tony.
“Occasionally,” said the old man. “I work over there.” He pointed to Parliament buildings. “But I’m not on the permanent staff. I’m only a temporary worker.” Tony offered him another chip.
The next morning’s newspaper reported that the Prime Minister reckoned he would’ve preferred a piece of fish.