I was travelling by bus last night when something unusual happened. I was sitting next to a young woman. Clearly, she was drowsy. At one point her head began drooping towards me, and, like some bean stalk, trying to find a natural prop in the neigbourhhod. Finally it found my shoulder and rested on it. So here I was sitting on a bus with some stranger leaning on me as if we were relatives, or lovers, or at least close friends. I was smiling at myself as I thought: "I'm of some use; I'm supporting her".

The whole thing didn't last longer than a few minutes. Suddenly the woman woke up with a start and, having realised she had been leaning on me, said: "I'm sorry". Later she explained she was after a night shift and thus desperately lacking sleep. But, whatever she might think, I was very glad to have been given this chance of lending my shoulder to someone. I had this joy.