Oooo what a surprise

 

A burly, black uniformed, man knocked insistently on my room door. Surprised by the knocking and by the knocker, and then by the squad of police officers (in various shapes and sizes) staggered along the staircase, I was dumbstruck.

I had heard the previous knocks (on adjacent doors) which, living where I am, seems to be De rigueur, but thought no more of it.

The well-built (and entirely professional) police officer enquired of my neighbour, and of the distinct whiff of canabaloids lingering on the landing between us. I laughed it off speaking of my incense. He was distinctly unamused. The establishment gentleman not so gentlemanly proceeded to pound on my neighbour's door, calling my neighbour's name while doing so. Downstairs, the open front door issued in whiffs of winter.

I retreated back into the comparative not quite so cool of my room.

More knocking More questions. More of my non-committal verbal fencing.

"We've got the place surrounded" launched through my open window, and straight out of a TV cop show. More threats were issued. I wonder, does officers on the stairs and in the small backyard consist of 'surrounding'.

More knocking, this time by neighbour's mother making enquiries. I would have offered her to take a seat, but I only have one and I wanted neither of us to be seated on my bed. That seemed a little too friendly considering the circumstances.

Eventually, the questioning officer gained entry to my neighbour's room and, with colleagues and a distinctly unamused female officer, proceeded to search my neighbour's room.

Later, I was told (by another tenant) that a waft of officers had attacked him, in a case of mistaken identity.

My neighbour was arrested. For what I have no idea. He is 18. We have all made mistakes. Me a copious amount. I wish him and his concerned mother well.

After all the excitement I badly needed a real cup of coffee. I walked here, to Costa Coffee, in the town centre and, being soothed by a Flat White, began writing