There is a very pretty young Roma girl who sells the Big Issue in my town. She’s probably 20, but she looks 16. Last time I walked past, I noticed a man in his late 60s talking to her. Something felt off so I stood and watched. He was leaning into her face and talking, and then he took her hand and began stroking it. God it made my skin crawl. As I got closer, I saw her blush and heard her say something like “I don’t know.” He then looked suspiciously around him and walked quickly away with his shoulders hunched. I suppose I could have misread the situation, but I’d bet £50 he was offering her money for sex.
Anyway, today I went into town and she was there again and another creepy old man, probably in his 70s, was talking to her. I couldn’t believe it. I got right up close and heard him saying “…well, you’re a sweetie…I think you’re very pretty.” Then a car accelerated, so I couldn’t hear the rest. She looked a bit uncomfortable, as she did the last time this happened. I was making up my mind whether to ask her if she was OK when he suddenly saw me looking. He glared at me and walked quickly away, just like the other man, looking guilty as hell.
Both these men were well dressed, and no doubt both were retired with children and grandchildren. They made a beeline for her because they thought she was vulnerable. God I’ve been f-ing fuming all afternoon. I know someone will say “maybe they were just being nice,” and maybe they were. Maybe I misread both situations. I’m sure I didn’t though. What really gets me is that both were well-dressed, well-groomed men in late middle-age. No doubt they were both retired, belong to the local church or bowls club, and are considered decent and upstanding gentlemen.