Picture the scene...
In Blackburn there's a single escalator next to the Post Office that takes you up into the shopping centre. Whilst waiting for the bus one afternoon, I saw a drunken chap shuffling towards it. He stood for a second or two at the bottom, one leg rising and falling as though trying to time his step with that of the escalator. He finally committed, shifted his weight, teetered and then started to fall backwards. A well meaning passerby caught him as he fell, hooking him under the arms and catching him just in time. In itself this looked like a perfectly choreographed slapstick routine and I was more than satisfied to have watched it.

However, the feet of the drunkard were still on the escalator, and the passerby watched helplessly as his new friend’s legs rose steadily, until he was almost horizontal. Rather than drop the man, he made the split second decision to jump on the escalator too and the pair rose uncomfortably and precariously out of sight.

I felt like applauding. This was the perfect ending to the slapstick routine, from the viewer’s perspective at least. I don't imagine that the drunk was in the least bit grateful when they got to the top and due to the daft layout of Blackburn shopping centre the passerby had to walk right the way around the block to get back to his wife who he’d been with right at the start.

Disclaimer: Each time I recount this tale, I never feel that I’ve done it justice. In my head it takes the form of a silent movie accompanied by a jaunty piano soundtrack. It starts with an intertitle card with a witty remark and at the end I imagine the crackly black and white film fading to black as the characters slide out of view. I hope you can too.
( e.m.m.y. foxtrot uniform charlie kilo india tango, Fri 22 Jan 2010, 16:44, 9 replies)

I can imagine it like that
you paint a good picture with your words
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Fri 22 Jan 2010, 16:46, closed)

Tanks
I'm glad you can see it too.
( e.m.m.y. foxtrot uniform charlie kilo india tango, Fri 22 Jan 2010, 16:54, closed)

I enjoyed this...
...simply for the slightly unusual tale-telling. I have, therefore, clicked accordingly.
(ThomsonsPier consumes, Fri 22 Jan 2010, 16:47, closed)

Much obliged
*doffs cap*
( e.m.m.y. foxtrot uniform charlie kilo india tango, Fri 22 Jan 2010, 16:55, closed)

I pictured it just that way
and it made me smile lots.
( Moey, Fri 22 Jan 2010, 16:55, closed)

Previous comments convey my sentiments exactly.
Fantastic tale.
Well done.
(TheColonel, Fri 22 Jan 2010, 17:05, closed)

Masses of clicks for you sir!!!
You tale has reduced me to a spluttering wreck of infantile laughter!
(bumless The man with the hole in the middle, Sun 24 Jan 2010, 1:49, closed)

Thank you
for making me laugh so hard I feel sick. *click*
(Zombie Pirate Last seen stealing your ship on, Sun 24 Jan 2010, 11:50, closed)

Oooh!
Smiles, infantile laughter, and nausea! Exactly the responses I previously only dreamt of. You are all so kind!
( e.m.m.y. foxtrot uniform charlie kilo india tango, Mon 25 Jan 2010, 9:40, closed)