Running the Gauntlet

Tony took a deep breath and briefly closed his eyes, wishing he was anywhere but here.

He wanted to shut out the world, or at least this part of it, but that was impossible.

He thought about who would be waiting on the outside, and the strategies they might employ to get to him. Was there any chance that he could get away scot- free?

Moving forwards he took a last look around at the others and wondered if they felt the same.

Just a few more steps to go.

Then, like a boxer who emerges blinking from the shadow of the wings into the full glare of a packed auditorium, Tony left the tube station and was immediately dazzled by the morning daylight bathing central London. He quickly regained focus and began the short walk to his office.

Bang! Within a nanosecond a glossy leaflet was thrust towards him by a woman in a bright green t-shirt that bore the legend 'Lose 5 lbs today.' He saw her coming and with a deft move to the right avoided her outstretched arm. Easy. She had reinforcements though and they scented blood. Two more leaflets came towards him, one from each side. They were quick but Tony was quicker and he nimbly passed through the narrow gap between them. Result! Celebrations were cut short as he spied a handful of magazine distributors and a clearly marked charity fundraiser straight ahead.

Deploying a tactic he'd pulled many times before, Tony took out his mobile 'phone and pretended to have a conversation with someone. No one would interrupt him whilst he was on a 'business call' and with one hand on the 'phone and the other in his pocket he couldn't pick up any leaflets, magazines or newspapers that came his way. He breezed through the next 100 metres.

Why did the journey to work have to be so difficult? he wondered. It used to be such a simple, short and uneventful walk. Now it was a major obstacle course that he felt had to overcome. His smooth passage blocked by a seemingly endless chain of vendors, fundraisers and leaflet distributors.

There was now a clear path to the office and confident that his journey would continue unmolested Tony put away the 'phone. "Good morning sir how are you today? " a voice called out from behind. "Oh I'm fine thank you for asking." As soon as the words left his mouth he realised he'd been caught. A pretty brunette was advancing towards him, clipboard in hand. He was a seasoned pro at avoiding people in the street but had just made a schoolboy error; responding to an unfamiliar voice. Where had she come from? His mind raced with possibilities. He was sure she was never in front of him. Perhaps she had been perched in a doorway and waited for him to go pass. If so that was a new and clever tactic. Well he now considered himself wise to it and would be even more vigilant in the mornings to come.

A very brief conversation followed. He was keen not to appear rude so made out there was an urgent meeting he had to attend. It was just this sort of uncomfortable conversation he wanted to avoid. He gave regularly to two charities and was not prepared to give to anymore. Tony just wanted to scream out 'Leave me alone!'

The finishing line was in sight, just one more hurdle to overcome.

He walked into the coffee shop and placed his order. A regular black coffee to go. This is what he always asked for. Yet just like a million times before the request initially fell on deaf ears. It seems it would not be prepared until the shop assistant rattled off the entire menu. She could not be interrupted. No he did not want liquorice, aniseed, or caramel, added to his coffee. Eventually the message got through that he really did just want a regular black coffee to go. He picked up his cup and finally made it to the office without further hindrance. Safe at last, he thought, at least until it all starts again on the journey home.