After the last trolley

Text: an original contemporary reportage-style practice extract.

At closing time, the supermarket car park seemed finished with its purpose. Customers had driven away, the entrance doors were locked and the illuminated arrow still pointed towards a store nobody could enter. At the far end, a worker began bringing the trolleys back.

Each row made a different noise. One wheel clicked at every turn; another dragged a thin complaint across the paving. The worker separated the damaged trolleys before fitting the others into the shelter. I asked how she found the faulty wheel so quickly. She pushed one trolley a metre and stopped. The answer had arrived in the sound before I knew which part to watch.

By the time the last row was parked, the car park looked orderly enough to seem as though nobody had worked in it. The damaged trolleys stood behind a barrier, waiting for the morning. Tomorrow, customers would notice them only if they were accidentally put back into use. Tonight, the most successful part of the job was a difficulty that had been removed before anyone could complain about it.

Analyse how the writer uses language and structure to interest and engage the reader.

In your answer, consider:

• language features and techniques
• structural techniques
• the effect on the reader.

Support your views with detailed reference to the extract.