An Exciting Evening at Marks & Spencer posted on October 12, 2005 by David Joyal

Tonight, Holly is attending the Wolfson College dinner for new graduate students. I eagerly await to hear how the event went as I suspect she will have a great time.

As it is a very warm evening I decided to walk to the nearby community of Summertown and pick up a few treats in anticipation of a possible movie on the laptop later tonight. For those interested, the treats being beer and Cornish clotted cream ice cream (aka the best vanilla ice cream ever). Despite a sudden downpour during the walk, I had a great time as it was an interesting trip to Summertown. As I walked into Marks & Spencers for the goods I noted that the "Big Issue" homeless newspaper vendor outside the door was much ruder then normal as he mumbled some derogotory comments as I walked by.

Apparently someone else did not take the mumbling so well as a fight broke out just as I was checking out of the store. From what I could hear, there were accusations of bicycle stealing and wife hitting. Fortunately it was one of those events where the participants go around in circles threatening to kill each other but no real harm happens. It did get fairly exciting when I walked out of the store and one of them ran behind me, apparently attempting to use me as a shield. I made it clear that he needed to move along immediately, and he did. After running out into the middle of the street for more sorta-punches, one of them ran into the store as a retreat and the other followed him in and landed a punch on him. The person who was hit dropped to the floor and clutched his back and howled about his injury. The Marks and Spencers employees formed a circle around the person on the floor and forced the hitter back outside.

During this time, I was standing outside under a tree, struggling between not wanting to let my ice cream melt and the need to watch the action. I chatted with a city works guy who had been watching the whole thing from the outside. We were both amazed at how long it was taking the police to arrive, as they had been called about 15 minutes ago. He was very British and very ashamed of the police force for taking so long.

Finally, we heard the sirens approaching. There were two cops in the car, and the driver got out while the other stayed in the car. The worker and I were shocked when the officer got out - it was a young, very attractive woman. Like supermodel attractive - probably 5'10" and in her mid-20s. I said, "That's not very common in the States." He said, "It isn't here, either." The fighter who was still up came running over to the police car and started swearing and ranting about the other guy - until he saw her! And then he was completely apologetic and backed down completely. She led him over to beneath a tree and talked to him and had complete control of the situation. I think she must be the force's secret weapon to diffuse heated situations!

It was also interesting how calm and civilized the whole thing was once the police arrived. Portland Police would have had the guy spread eagle on the back of the patrol car and on the way to the station by the time this cop was still asking questions and calming everyone down. She even asked the fighter to step aside at one point so she could talk with someone in private, and then came back to him and eventually did handcuff him. Shortly after, the ambulance arrived for the other guy, and I had to get the ice cream home.

I got home shortly before 9 and was drenched after a very heavy downpour on the way home. The whole experience made it very rewarding to heat up an excellent Indian dinner from Marks & Spencer's and reflect on the evening. Holly arrived home while I was writing this, indeed very happy about her evening. She met all kinds of interesting people.