I saw the oddest thing the other day and can't stop thinking about what in the name of all that's holy and precious was going on. AIBU to ask you what you think, so I can get some sleep?
I was waiting for someone outside the British Library on Euston Rd. Beside me a casually dressed man was making a placating phone call, and anxiously watching the road. He was holding a clipboard and a small white envelope, and carrying an ordinary blue cool-box, such as you might use for a picnic.
Eventually a flustered looking couple turned up. They were both in their early 40s, and looked fairly well-to-do. They were obviously rather anxious, possibly because they were late, and relieved to see Clipboard Man. I couldn't hear what they were saying no matter how hard I tried, but I could see Clipboard Man being sort of authoritative and reassuring. He kept gesturing to the cool-box, and handed over the envelope with some ceremony. The woman said nothing, only continued to look rather anxious.
Clipboard Man then hailed a cab. The man in the couple protested mildly, but the other man said something along the lines of it all being sorted and paid for, and ushered the woman in. She sat on the edge of the seat clutching the white envelope. Clipboard man leaned into the cab to give the driver instructions, and had what looked like a reassuring and authoritative word with the man. The man patted Clipboard Man's shoulder once or twice in a gesture that looked sort of grateful, in a business-like fashion, then got into the cab next to his partner. Clipboard Man then put the cool-box onto the floor of the cab, slammed the door, had one last brisk word with the driver, and waved the cab off.
He then made one or two notes on the clipboard, and hurried back along the Euston Rd without looking back.
WTF was that all about then?! I damn nearly ran after Clipboard Man to ask, but thought if there was owt dodgy going on I might be found strung up by piano wire somewhere...