Some weeks ago, as I got off the bus I walked by the most curious thing. There was about 14 men dressed in black. They were in smart black polo necks with black jeans, well built and trim. All they were doing was sweeping the sidewalk.
Now, why does it take 14 people to sweep 10 meters of sidewalk? About 3 of them were sweeping. 1 was on the phone, 3 were discussing something. Incredibly inefficient, why were these smartly dressed people doing a such a menial task, not very well at that and not trying to pretend to do it. It didn't seem like sweeping the sidewalk was their main intention. Hmmm.
About 10 minutes later I walked past the same spot as I went to pick Nathan up from school. They had 'finished' what they were doing and were entering the Institute of Medical Study school which is also a thoroughfare to the train station. Who were they? The Japanese equivalent of MI6? the police? Spies???
I saw them a few days later, again, too many people for that one task. What were they up to? Again, they were just sweeping the sidewalk - all there is to sweep is leaves, and it isn't autumn yet. Not all were concentrating on the task. Few were in conference, talking on the phone, just walking around.
One day I was walking along with my cleaner, Shelly, and we saw them and wondered who they were. She suggested they looked like the military. Perhaps? Her husband had recently been deported back to the Philipines, she said the immigration police dressed in plain clothes. You'd never know..
Yesterday, I was on a SLOOOWWWW walk with the dogs and Nathan.. who takes SUCH a long time to get anywhere. I then realised I was amongst these men in black. There was one just next to me and then Enzo got interested in him. I didnt know how friendly they were and was watching his reaction to Enzo. Enzo approached him and he JUMPED 3 feet in the air away from him.
I pulled Enzo back immediately, they didnt make contact at all.
I noticed he was mentally handicapped. Thats what they all were. Dressed smartly for the job and doing something within their collective means. I dont know anything about their circumstance, and this was Platina (um) dori (Road) an upmarket street that should be maintained well. All around Blue Point Cafe, just THE place to have coffee on the street.
