I'm not sure if I'd go that far, but it begins auspiciously.
(Don't lead yourself into stupid temptation)
I was passing a young man in Charles Street , Cardiff, Wales.
“Any chance you could sell me one directly?”
He smiled.
“C’mon, let's cut out the middleman!” I pressed.
He kept smiling. “No, I’m afraid I can’t do that.” Unfortunately it took him a split second too long to reject my proposition and I thought I saw a glint of hesitation in his eyes. What’s worse, on the cover of the magazines - which he was about to take to the sellers - I noticed one of my greatest heroes and, for a split second too long, I considered repeating my proposition.
It made sense: he’d sell me a few copies – with the John Lennon feature I’d buy a few rather than just one, to give to friends and to keep for posterity; If I saved, say, a quid on the normal price, he’d make a fiver or so for himself. Nice and easy, cash in hand. We exchanged one more glance. Then, just before I was to say something - I don't even want to know what - I quickly turned and walked away... scared at how dangerously close it suddenly got.
(10.00 a.m., April 15, outside The Big Issue HQ in Cardiff
