The Ned Wood Archive

Joe

Joe and George are strolling down through the Park. They’ve all spent some time up at the sign and now they’re drifting back slowly. Nowhere they need to be urgently. They’d split up into groups of two or three. Joe’s with George discussing whether to get some food. It’s a bit on the early side for Joe – he had some lunch with Tom. George didn’t, so he’s getting desperate. He grabs a burrito from the stall towards the bottom of the Park and they sit down just above Sweet Charity, the two of them, so George can eat in comfort.

Joe’s watching the crowd drift by. Observing the people as they pass. Checking out what they’re wearing. Playing games imaging stories about the people he sees. Maybe these two are a couple on their first Glastonbury together. This is a family, but the Dad has lost his patience and isn’t talking to any of them. This youth has lost his mates and his trying to work out whether to go up the hill or back down. Suddenly, he’s transfixed. Captivated. Intoxicated. He’s seen the most beautiful face coming up the hill. Short black hair, brushed to the side. Dark eyes, refined nose, high cheek bones, mouth curled in a gentle smile. It casts a spell on him. He can’t take his eyes off her. His gaze follows this disembodied head surrounded by a halo, cos that‘s all he sees. A saintly head like in one of those religious paintings. Or one of those photos you get in the papers or on the news where everything else is blurred. In truth, it’s just a girl, walking past, off to visit the sign probably. Maybe in a group, maybe on her own, he doesn’t really notice anyone else. As he’s sat there watching, he’s conscious that he’ll remember that face forever. At the same time, he can’t let himself take his eyes off her because he’s worried he might forget that face.

He watches her pass the table and carry on up the hill. He knows she saw him staring because she faced him directly, widened her smile briefly, then shouted “nice shirt” in his direction. It’s true. It’s one of his favourite festival shirts. He keeps watching her, his eyes following her until he’s lost sight of her amongst all of the others going up the hill. Then he turns around and remembers he was sitting next to George.

George has already finished his burrito and has been spending the last minute or so watching Joe. He wipes the side of his mouth with a napkin, and smiles.

“You’ve fallen in love again, haven’t you?” he says.