When my father died he had requested that his ashes should be scattered under each of the benches in the town

There were thirty-six benches

But as I walked around with his urn in my arms I felt a pain as I found that the careless disposal of gum had marred many of these places of rest

And indeed two had been defaced by obscene graffiti

I asked the Lord for guidance but he did not answer me so I left my fathers ashes on a northern train

As he had always liked travelling