Friday 9 November 2012

Is this number 1 ?

Have you noticed how it's only when you play an incident back in your mind that it can be irksome ?

Let me explain ...

Last night, about 6.30, it was dark outside when I heard a knock at the door. I went down and standing outside was a stocky, smartly dressed guy with dark hair and one of those plastic i.d. cards around his neck.

I said "Hello ..."

He just said "Is this number 1 ?"

I then explained that my house didn't have a number and that number 1 was at the other end of the avenue ... well, next to the end because the houses at each end of our avenues have house names only.

And then he went without a 'thank you' or anything. All he said was "Is this number 1 ?"

Now there was a time when a stranger knocking on someone's door, unless he was a doorstep assassin, would say something like "Good evening ... sorry to trouble you ... but I wonder if you could tell me is this number 1 ?".

Who or what was he ? He could have been the police ... a council representative ... or a double-glazing salesman ... 

I know what he wasn't ~ courteous and polite.

Perhaps I've been in this world too long.
 
 

16 comments:

  1. Oh Charlie! Think of the possibilities in terms of writing a story with that opening! I think it would be fabulous.

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    1. I think you could be right Pet. Once upon a time I might have had a bash at a story but now ...

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  2. I would probably have asked him, number 1 what?.Never make it easy for such people.

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    1. I agree with you but he took me rather by surprise.

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  3. Charlie, it would be a great writing exercise! Those opening words and the scene as you have set it ... and it could be a mystery, a romance, a science fiction piece and a drama/thriller type story. Not all at the same time, but one of each. If I had my wits about me, I'd try it!

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    1. It seems as though you have more of your wits about you than I have mine Pet ...

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  4. A distinct lack of manners, to be sure.

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    1. Such is the way of things for some Mitch, as we all know. I should perhaps have responded with a "Well met fellow, and pray introduce yourself ..."

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  5. I realize that I'm easily amused, but the thought that it could be a western novel (would that also involve time travel?) tickled my fancy ...

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    1. I think you're already half way started with that story Pet ...

      I can see your point and, of course, I did entitle the piece "Is this number 1 ?" because it invites you [everyone] in. There's an air of mystery to it ... it could lead you anywhere ... and I am pleased you picked up on that :-)

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  6. Wow....so is your house like named Chuck House or Charles Place or End House or Wildgoose House? I am trying to thnk of the name of British Airways Operations at Gatwick...it was called something house and was connected to the Terminal. My house is just called 8201. :)

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    1. My house is just an end of terrace property ~ the houses around here were lived in by the local railwaymen and were built in the late 1920s I think. Mine was the house of the agent ~ I think he collected the rent from all the other railwaymen. There are probably 7 or 8 lines of 9 houses parallel to each other Chuck and the houses at both ends don't have a number just a name. My house is called 'Park House' and when my younger brother [who is short of certain social graces] first came here he muttered "I thought it would have been a better house than this ...". I thought this was really funny because fortunately I don't suufer from delusions of grandeur.

      Unfortunately I can't tell you that my property is known as Wildgoose Towers ...

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  7. Armistice is coming. He was a ghost from WW1 looking for his lost love. You are #1 with us. You could have told him you were #1 inside the house but Natasha or your brother might disagree. Park House does sound grand. Goosing Cottage might cause a lot of laughter, at least in Canada.

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    1. " You are #1 with us." ~ thank you for that Karyn. As for "goosing" it probably wouldn't cause quite so much hilarity over here ... whilst Dogging Cottage would.

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  8. Sad isn't it? The lack of civility and common courtesy always surprises me these days...

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    1. I walked past a group of ten or twelve walkers in their 20s and 30s on Sunday morning and said Good morning or hi as I passed them. They were spread out but I should think only 3 or 4 bothered to respond.

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