I was sitting on the bus, a W15 to be precise, when a man got on. The bus was crowded and there was nowhere for him to sit. He stood next to me clinging to the pole. I normally give up my seat for older citizens but I couldn’t decide if he was of this category or not. If I asked him to sit he may be offended but if |I didn’t he may think me rude. For god’s sake; was he old or not? He was @ that border stage. As the journey went on I prayed a seat would become available to spare me from this predicament but instead even more people boarded the bus. At this point I thought the man was old enough to be offered a seat but it would look strange getting up @ this late stage. Then another man got on, with a stick and I thought ‘I can’t offer him it as the original man will wonder why I didn’t get up for him’ Luckily he spotted a seat @ the back of the bus so this relieved me.

I felt people were looking @ me thinking ‘what a rude young woman not getting up for that older gentleman’

As I looked @ him, his wrinkles stood out @ me, his grey hair looked prominent, his age spots laughed @ me. How could I think him too young to offer a seat?

Then he asked me if this was the stop for the hospital and got off.

Probably to get a walking stick.