Crowded Street

When I stepped out of the tube station, it was raining heavily outside. I opened my umbrella and started walking. But something was wrong. The atmosphere was somehow very unpleasant.

Strange...

Every single person I walked past didn't have an umbrella over them. Everyone was silent and looking grim; and they walked on, all facing the same direction.

Then suddenly a taxi stopped by, and the driver put out his hand and beckoned me to come over. I gestured to him that I didn't need a taxi, but the taxi-driver said, "Come on, get in!"

He was so insistent that I had to give in. Besides, I wanted to get away from this unpleasant atmosphere.

Later, the driver, pale-faced, said to me, "Well, you know...when I saw you walking as if you were trying to avoid bumping into people on an empty street, I thought I should help you..."