(Mine. I mean the photo, God permitting; the rest - his)
She was approaching me down Corporation Road. The street was busy, but I focused. She was old, short and ugly. There was something repelling about her and the small mongrel that accompanied her. It was one of those dogs that may - and sometimes do - make you think that Satan really hijacked creation and whenever you overcame your fear and prejudices and showed trust, the beasts always* proved you right. It was as good a moment to lose faith as any. But I didn't. I persevered and wanted to establish an eye contact to give the woman - or myself - a chance. I zeroed in, but the original sin intervened. I couldn't say - and perhaps never will be able to - whether she looked at me, at the kebab shop on her right or at the Vauxhall on her left: she was cross-eyed.
*more little faith: even if always, it's always so far; and I bet only always in my case - and I may have been hijacked by Satan, at least for the time being, God permitting. (I meant God permitting for the time being, not not God permitting hijacked by Satan**.
**but then again, what isn't God permitting?)
