I was walking home with a bag full of groceries from Sainsbury’s. I was in a good mood.

‘Scuze me,’ came a voice.

‘Hmm?’ I said, slowly pulling myself out of my pondering. I focused on a young man dressed in a grey hooded jumper.

‘Sorry to bother you, but do you have [mumble] [mumble]…’

‘Pardon?’ I was still thinking too slowly to interact with a real person.

‘Do you have 97 pence? You see, I need to buy a bus ticket.’ He ducked his head down, waiting for rejection.

I was in a great mood. I put my shopping down and reached unzipped my backpack to get my wallet. Today, I could afford a pound.

‘Thank you!’ he said. ‘I’m sorry, ah, I have to ask for money for the bus…’

‘That’s all right,’ I replied. I looked in my coin compartment. There was no gold one pound coin. There was only copper two pence and one pence coins. ‘Oh, I don’t know if I have anything,’ I said, feeling truly sorry. I looked in the notes compartment and found only £20 notes. If I had a £5 note, I probably would have given it to him. I was in such a good mood.

‘No, no, that’s okay, whatever you have,’ he assured me.

‘I’m really sorry, this is all I’ve got, honestly.’ I gave him five pence in coins.

Although a tiny amount, he must have been warmed by my absent-minded glowing smile. ‘Thank you… What’s your name?’

‘I’m Joan. How about you?’

‘Daniel.’

He stuck his hand out. I reached forward and he shook my hand. Then he raised it up and kissed it.

‘Thank you. Have a good day!’ And he darted off.