John is smoking a cigarette, fiddling with his phone, and wondering where he can get a decent kebab, when a reasonably clean woman asks him his opinion. These things don't happen every day, though the light doesn't exactly flare in John's eyes with wonder. He has an image to maintain, and it's one that suits his ego. Today, his ego feels jaded.

"Ain't you never heard of a rat race, luv?"