His diction could not be faulted; the words appeared to stream from his lips with such ease and grace. Perhaps he knew it too well. Mr Jenkins was an ex-work colleague of Mr Horsewill and of a similar age. He still worked for the same firm. Mr Jenkins was not as fortunate as Mr and Mrs Horsewill; he hadn’t managed to acquire enough funds to enable him and his wife to take an early retirement. Mr Jenkins lived in Brockett Mansions. Every Monday evening, Mr Jenkins took the 19:06 train, from his local station, and travelled one stop to his bridge club. Mrs Horsewill had taken up bridge in her recent retirement, and she had joined the same club.Mrs Horsewill took the 19:06 train, from her local station, and travelled one stop to her bridge club. Two days previously, Mrs Jenkins had been waiting on Platform Two of her local station at 19:07. ‘I’m sorry to announce that the 19:06 First Capital Connect Service to Torringdon is delayed by approximately two minutes.’ Mr Jenkins shuffled round the corner and onto Platform Two. Mr Jenkins had suffered from polio as a young boy and so one leg was entirely crippled. As a result, he did not retain his balance with ease and required a walking stick in order to assist his stability. ‘Oh, there you are hahaha! Oh dear, isn’t that funny? Here I was, thinking you wouldn’t make it. I was thinking to myself, oh dear, its 19:07 now, and he’s normally here by 19:02 at the very latest. But here you are! Oh well, well done for making it,’ Mrs Horsewill breathlessly explained to Mr Jenkins. Mrs Horsewill gazed up at him. Her chest puffed out towards him as she watched his every move with glazed eyes and quivering fingertips. His gloriously sympathetic face glowed in the fading
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