Friday's (Brief) Moral Dilemma
May. 6th, 2025 11:49 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
muninnhuginnWe went to listen to Henry Normal and Brian Bilston at the Corn Exchange on Friday. Had a dispiriting (and far too noisy) meal at the burger place in what used to be the Red Cow, then toodled over to the show. Seats at the front of the raked area at the back of the stalls withe two empty places between me and the entrance. Joked that I should've brought my imaginary friends. These are great seats for watching the sounds and lights too.
First half was Henry--and very enjoyable (tho' I'd actually bought tickets to see Brian).
At the beginning of the second half, after the lights went down a gentleman slipped into one of the empty seats to watch the prcoeedings. Which were highly enjoyable. When he nipped away at the end, he dropped then pen he'd been holding (along with a couple of books). I picked it up. It wasn't a very prepossessing pen, not your one of a kind, sentimentally valuable fountain pens, just a reasonably ordinay fibre tip or roller ball (I didn't check). But what it was, of course, was Hentry Normal's pen. A trophy! Proof I went to see the two poets on May 2nd 2025.
So, did I stroll out keeping my treasure or hand it back. If it had been a valuable item, or obviousy personalised, I'd've not given it a thought. Straight back to its owner it goes. But a random plastic pen? I wavered for a moment and then handed it back to him where he was signing, "just in case it was a favourite".
First half was Henry--and very enjoyable (tho' I'd actually bought tickets to see Brian).
At the beginning of the second half, after the lights went down a gentleman slipped into one of the empty seats to watch the prcoeedings. Which were highly enjoyable. When he nipped away at the end, he dropped then pen he'd been holding (along with a couple of books). I picked it up. It wasn't a very prepossessing pen, not your one of a kind, sentimentally valuable fountain pens, just a reasonably ordinay fibre tip or roller ball (I didn't check). But what it was, of course, was Hentry Normal's pen. A trophy! Proof I went to see the two poets on May 2nd 2025.
So, did I stroll out keeping my treasure or hand it back. If it had been a valuable item, or obviousy personalised, I'd've not given it a thought. Straight back to its owner it goes. But a random plastic pen? I wavered for a moment and then handed it back to him where he was signing, "just in case it was a favourite".
