SPECTRAL SOCK SWIPER

In 1959, when I was 19 years old, I visited Alnwick in Northumberlandto see a friend. One afternoon, at about 2.00pm, I was waiting for abus in very bad weather, with thick snow everywhere. Standing to myright was an elderly lady. She wore a long black dress and shawl aroundher shoulders, her hair pulled back in a bun, her face very thin withdeep, tired and sunken eyes.


She commented on the cold day and then asked me if she could have acouple of pairs of socks. It was only then that I noticed that her feetwere bare. I took off my socks and handed them to her.