Interview with the caretaker - a short story about Tony Benn

In 2012 M Shed in Bristol hosted an exhibition 'Real and Imagined Lives'. They asked local writers to write a short story based on images of people connected to Bristol.

My story was featured in the exhibition and I chose Tony Benn.

This was the image:

And here is the story:

Leaning on his mop in the corner, a portly man in saggy trousers watches the press frenzy as a distinguished visitor comes to the village. A local reporter sees the man, who seems absorbed by all the unusual activity, and she asks him what he thinks about it.
"They say he's some political type from the city," he said. "Dresses well but not too posh. He's been sat in that chair most of the day, talking to all manner of working-class folk and journalists, making promises that the strikes will end and all will be well again. He looks right enough. He's been puffing away on that pipe for ages now. The smell of smoke will take ages to get out of the WI group's wall hanging. I listened a while. He speaks well of normal folk and has a friendly smile that makes a man trust him at his word. I just wish he'd hurry up and leave so I can clean up and knock off for the day, but he looks comfy where he's sat, so perhaps I'll listen a while and see what he has to say."

Rest in peace Tony.