After 9:30 pensioners – if they have a pensioner’s card – can use the bus for free. So being English – and the main motivation of being English is to avoid embarrassment – why did I sit in the bottom section . When I got on there were a few seats left – but when we went round the corner – all the over 60s in the area climbed on board.
There were old ladies standing up – but who looked fit – and – the last two times I had offered my seat – on public transport – the person refused to take the seat – both told me they were perfectly fit – and – er – who was I to be offering them a seat – which made me very embarrassed – particularly as the other passengers expressed their contempt – in the English way – by looking / not looking – and appearing to look anywhere – but at me.
So I sat – not wishing to commit – not wishing to talk – not wishing to insult – not wishing to get embarrassed – and – wanting the comfort of the seat. We travelled on – people got on – some people got off – friends of old ladies got on – I got looks – oh no – I’m embarrassed again.
In the end a very old lady got on – I got up – and moved down the bus – near the stairs – blocking people getting off – or getting on – no – I’m getting embarrassed again. Oh what a relief when my stop came. Except this other old lady would not get out of the way – so I had to barge – push – shove – to get myself off. Embarrassment again.