Better to be alone than in bad company.

On Christmas day I was seated at a table for 2,next to me an elderly English couple,he more forthcoming,she somewhat reticent(some people are overly verbose,others terribly taciturn),I do not remember who was seated first,myself,or them,but I do remember we smiled at each other,said hello,a pleasant exchange of niceties followed with the customary but harmless poke,on their part,into my affairs. WHY ARE PEOPLE SO INTERESTED IN ME? I was to have the same table on New Years Eve, but the day before I got a little note informing me, my sitting had been changed from 6.15 to 9.15.I did not mind, in fact I welcomed it, I hate hurrying and showering at 5 and I knew I would be in town until quite late, and I was, from about 10 till about 4. On the night I was already sitting at my lovely little table,when a couple in their early fifties were shown to the table next to me. Not a word, not a nod, not a smile. Who behaves like that? From the very few words I couldn't help overhearing, I detected Portuguese. And I had always considered the Portuguese to be cultured people. Not this pair of buffoons.Several nights ago there was an extremely large lady sitting at a table for four near me together with her daughter-a teenager, very obviously with down's syndrome, delightful,sparkly little rascal,rumbustious,quite a handful.They seemed to have a lovely relationship,the mother gently scolding and reprimanding. How is the girl going to survive, if the mother dies before her, which under the circumstances is very likely,I thought,if she continues to expand her already at least 25 stone frame. She is not going to see 40. Yesterday, New Years Eve, they were at their allocated table again. When leaving, I could not help myself-I smiled and said to the mother-you have a lovely daughter, but she certainly has a mind of her own. The lady answered - she is not my daughter,she is my neighbour's,but I take care of her. I wished them Happy New Year and left. If the parents cannot take care of their daughter now, and the carer dies, what is going to happen to this eternal child? Sometimes there is no justice in the world.