I'm at home; Jimmy is on the way to the pub.
I know that, because he phoned from the road at the bottom of our drive.
He wants to be at home, too.
But he can't come home.
Now, as pathetic excuses for going to the pub go, how do you rate, "I can't come home, the police won't let me, there's an armed incident on the corner."
So I went outside, and there's a bloke walking round in jeans and a jacket, and Met Police baseball cap. I was thinking of getting my camera out. But an armed incident...? I think I shall be stay indoors scaredy cat.
Update: Tentatively, I ventured out, then realised that half the neighbourhood was standing around gawping. So I joined them, having a laugh with the guys in the warehouse next door, about Jimmy having to go to the pub. I went back to get my camera, but the police were giving me stern looks. When you're given stern looks by plainclothes police in baseball caps, who might well, for all I know, be armed response officers, you don't take photos (amateurish, I know...). I spent a few minutes reassuring some little girls that if it was dangerous, the police wouldn't let us stand around gawping. I had explained to their mothers about Jimmy being banished to the pub. they looked at me bemused; I suddenly realised by their dress they were Moslem.
Two very young men were led away by the police, and I chatted to one of the officers. She explained that although they are plainclothes they wear the baseball caps for easy identification (I suppose if there is a shoot-out they don't want a man down.)
Jimmy came home and said that he was walking along with his plastic bag of shopping, and saw that the police were all looking at him. He suddenly realised his fly was undone.
I did think for a few moments it might have been The Bill filming. They have been known. But I think they were proper.
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