It was late when he came out of his building.
It had been another long day. He was exhausted as he crossed the street to his car. It was then that he heard the commotion. He turned in the middle of the road and crossed back over. The shouting and laughing were close by. He walked to the corner and looked into the next street; a busier street with shop lights blazing. He could see it now. Three thugs, standing over an old tramp, shouting abuse and kicking him on the ground.
He looked on and saw passers-by giving them a wide birth; with no one helping. He watched as the hoodlums frisked the old man’s pockets, finding loose change and running off. Still, he was ignored by those that passed him. Suddenly, the observer felt an even greater tiredness sweep over him.
He was shaking when he reached his car. He climbed in and sat for a while. When he turned the key, the radio went back to playing his selection of music, ‘melodies to relax with’.
Louis Armstrong was singing ‘What a Wonderful World’.
He switched it off.