March 4

At Morden station a middle-aged Chinese man in a suit holds up leaflets while lecturing the bus queue in strained English about Jesus, the Second Coming, Hell. He is inspired, perhaps, by the first day of sunshine; the open blue sky, the ripple of unexpected heat; the uplifting feeling this gives him in his brain and body. No buses come.

The queue does not move, does not flinch. It’s too early in Spring for responses; the hot, bright day has stunned everyone into silence.

After ten minutes, the middle aged Chinese man in a suit moves away, still holding up his leaflets, still lecturing in strained English. Suddenly a sharp wind slaps the still faces, reminding eveyone just how early in Spring it really is.