There is a lady who gets the 17:37 from Basingstoke to Reading. Well clearly there are many, but this particular lady has a guide dog called Hugo. Hugo is mostly a solid, dependable character, but tends to be a bit skittish with loud noises, so the first time I encountered him and his owner, was on an evening when fireworks were in operation. I offered my arm to her and assisted her and Hugo onto the train.
Since then, I have seen her on many occasions, and only interfered with assistance when I thought it was necessary, usually just when she is negotiating the steps onto and off the train, as people tend to push and bustle to get off the train, and it must be terrifying if you can’t see.
I nearly had to interfere again tonight: Hugo is quite a soppy-looking dog, and a gentleman stooped to fuss over him, blocking his path and causing the lady to stop in alarm. She obviously couldn’t see what the man was doing, and he seemed either ignorant or unconcerned about the fact that the dog he was fussing over was this lady’s means of negotiating a busy station. Luckily Hugo responded to the command ‘find a way’ and managed to escape from the man. I will not forget the expression on the man’s face though; he looked cross and sulky.
I just don’t understand this. Hugo has a fluorescent jacket, and a harness round his middle; the lady herself has closed eyes and is obviously blind – her body language and reactions tell the observer that she has no visual connection to the world and that she relies on other senses and, of course, Hugo.
While I understand that Hugo looks very pettable, I cannot imagine that I would ever try to distract a guide dog especially not in a busy station, and so close to the platform edge.
For some reason I’m very protective of this lady, though we have spoken only a handful of times, and I admire her bravery in negotiating what, to a sighted person, is a horrible journey. She doesn’t ask for help, nor expect it, but is gracious when assistance is offered. That man came very close to being punched by a small angry kitten. Grrr.