Crowd Control

Ian glanced outside the window of his flat. A thick river of human beings flowed through the street.

“Noel, come have a look at this,” he called to his partner of 12 years.

“What are you staring at?” Noel asked.

Ian pointed and Noel regarded the throngs of people with the same curiosity and surprise that Ian had.

“What do you suppose is going on?”

“Beats me, but I’d like to go down and find out.” Ian grinned.

In the streets the flow seemed endless. Men, women, children all moved steadily along. The pair saw police and civilians marching side by side. The occasional Union Jack flew, heralding the crowd.

Ian and Noel decided to walk along.

Where’s everyone goin’ mate?” asked Ian of a man with multi-colored hair.

“‘Eard Prince Charles is speaking in Hyde Park. Says ‘e’s gonna abdicate.” he replied.

A woman walking nearby corrected, “That’s not it. J.K. Rowling is announcing a new Harry Potter book.”

A punker to Noel’s left shouted “Yer both wrong. Johnny Rotten’s playin’ a free gig in the park!”

With an understanding nod between them, Ian and Noel decided to follow the group to their destination to find out the source of the gathering.

Several miles away at Speaker’s Corner, Julian Basher, failed poet and current resident of Hyde Park watched the crowd amass.

Jerry was right. Prime the rumor mill and the crowds will finally come to hear me speak, he thought, unfolding a tattered sheet that contained his latest gem.

[This is my entry into the Sunday Photo Fiction challenge, hosted by Alastair Forbes. Write a short story of 200 words or less from the photo prompt provided.]

~V