5 Profiles of the Day, 7/24
It’s a rainy day. I came into work past 9 again today, and so I not only had a seat, I could stare directly across from me at the 5 people sitting in a row.
1) I see you, kid, sitting straight across from me. You have hairy legs, framed by cargo shorts on the top and black socks in black New Balances on the bottom. What caught my eye was your t-shirt. It has a picture of the earth on it, and a mouse pointer about to click the “close window” box in the upper right corner of your shirt. Suddenly, I entertain the sinister thought. What if that T-shirt is God’s computer screen? I look away, but mostly because you, bearded, black haired kid, are staring back at ME now. No, I do not want your hairy hairy legs. I’m just performing a social experiment of no particular purpose. Thanks.
2) Two seats to the left, a totally generic guy, in a faded Red Sox cap, a Hollister t-shirt, cargo shorts, and white and black pumas. Totally, completely generic. He puts in headphones and starts headbanging in his seat. Lovely.
3) Moving to the right, a woman who looks as if she is in pain. The shiny gold Adidas logo on her black jacket makes a joke of her pain. Her shoes are brown clogs; she clutches a bag to her chest. She looks like she is going to cry.
4) To be honest, I don’t remember who was sitting here - not a single detail.
5) I found the middle-aged man’s face more interesting than the others’ - I decided it was because his skin had lines in it. And not just ordinary wrinkles. Lines combined with a life that has seen little pain. It seemed that they existed merely because, at a certain age, they should.
