Cos the World Owes Me!

Do you use a bus on your commute? There's a type of person I see more on the bus than the train; the young female with toddler in push chair, wearing a default surly face which says ‘Out o' my way, can’t you see I’m comin' froo?’

You may have seen them yourself: Grey stained ill-fitting tracksuit bottoms and off-grime trainers, crop top with excess body over the waistband complete with belly-button stud drowning in flab; three-toned 'blond' 'hair'; an excess of silver chains, rings, dangly loop earrings and a nose stud; money wasted in the nails shop sporting ludicrous, impractical talon extensions, clutching a packet o’ fags and an expensive mobile phone in one hand while steering the off-spring buggy with the other, caring little for fellow passengers. The balling toddler looks like it's dressed in Surly’s own baby clothes, under a blanket that itself screams "Launder me a month ago!"

I watch (from the middle of the bus) an older gentleman with walking stick get up from his seat near the front – seats meant for the elderly and disabled as well as push-chair users – and offer it to Surly. To be fair Surly says “Fanks” but in a monotone of expectation rather than acknowledgement of a kindly deed, and with a look now directed at the older woman sitting next to her saying ‘Well move then, my buggy’s gotta go there!’

I am uplifted as the older lady looks straight back at her, smiles, then returns to her book with more class than Surly will muster in her lifetime. The scene is a striking contrast - the older woman, poised, smartly dressed, life's experience carried with dignity on her face, the look of a considerate person: the young girl, slouching, characterless, slovenly, a taker!

Balling offspring is red-faced; cheeks tear-soaked, snot-nosed. Surly leans over impatiently, made more inconvenient for her (and humorous for me) by the older woman not moving. She may look considerate but it doesn't mean she lacks self-confidence.
"Stop it, Britney! What you cryin' about? 'Ere!" Surly stuffs a dummy in her child's mouth. This works for a second before the dummy falls out. It is, though, brilliantly caught in the fall by the older woman, like an expert slip-fielder. Britney starts balling again but not before older lady receives a high-pitched 'Woooo' from a man sitting opposite and a small clap from two smiling teenage girls in standing room only. She passes it to Surly, dummy teat up under Surly's mouth; for me a superbly comic moment!

Surly is momentarily stunned. The older lady smiles her smile again and once more returns to her book. After what seems like an age, Surly sucks on the dummy (as if her cigarette-saliva and breath will sterilise it) and this time, coaxes it into Britney's mouth in a more caring way.

As I get off the bus I observe the scene one last time. Surly is on her mobile now talking to her friend Tiff, just subtly enough for the whole bus to hear. Older lady, straight-backed, unmoved, continues to read. The image is stark. Yes it's one of age, appearance (literally and perceptually), life experience, style, class. But it's also, sadly, one of distinctly opposite (and in the latter case growing) outlooks on life: Consideration of others in a shared world versus one solely interested in what the world owes me.