Equinox Ladies

[Late evening commute]

Loose black corduroys, not flared, a rain jacket, not bright, large leather purse, functional, brown pastie shoes, sensible. Smooth straight chestnut hair cut to the same length all around. Neat and constrained. She is reading Middlesex, the book in her right hand. Her left hand rests on her knee. Gold wedding band and a large sparkling diamond set in another. Her lips are set in concentration, she has a delicate face with downy pink skin. Blue eyes with pretty lashes. A good wife. She lifts her free hand to her hair as the other hand turns the book so she can read the next page. With large movements she twirls her hair around and around, pausing to reread a sentence. Spun into a glistening rope she holds her hair and runs her thumbnail across the taught strands, making a surprisingly loud skritching sound. She stops twirling and makes an 'o' with her mouth. Frowning slightly she resumes with a slower twirling, making sense of the event she is reading. She brushes the frayed end of her looped hair against her cheek. Pause, a brief nibble, she drop the coil, turns the page, and begins again.

Full moon over the Charles. A young woman slumps in her seat, shortish skirt, stripy tights, she clutches at her green vinyl purse staring listlessly at the ceiling for a few moments. The train rocks her gently over the bridge, hugs her to the steel bar as we pull in to the next station. Her hair is a tousled bleach blonde, held back from her face and large hoop earrings by a pair of large sunglasses worn like a headband. Hints of blue eye shadow, red lipstick. She straightens in her seat as we pull out again. More alert now, she opens her vivid verdant purse and pulls out a pale pink compact. Unconcernedly she unzips it, counts along a strip of bubble foil, presses out a small white pill, and pops it into her mouth. Everything back into the purse she slumps again, resuming her contemplation of the ceiling, gently rocking.

Valentine Ladies

[Early morning commute]

Windswept, red-brown wavy hair falling just below her shoulders. Tousled tresses frame hazel eyes. She is wearing brown cords and a green waterproof coat. Merrels make her look ready for an adventure. Talking on a cell phone she sweetly signs off, "Happy Valentine's day darling". After a contented pause the romance is tied up with her long wavy hair, twisted and piled into a clasp high on the back of her head. She covers her eyes with shrewd reading glasses, takes out newspaper and pen for the crossword. Her lips purse in concentration, her legs cross. The only remaining sign of passion is the green-russet twinkling promise of her earrings, uncovered when she tied back her lustrous hair.

Tall blonde waiting at the door. High cheek-boned model-pretty face with wide full lips. Long black and white wool dress coat. Listening to music. She sits opposite me. Black slipper shoes, patterned tights on slender shapely calves, graceful knees just visible at the hem of her coat. The coat parts here and her lap is covered by a short black pleated skirt. A red scarf accent at the throat. She soundlessly sings along to her music unselfconsciously, shaking her hair, happy smile on her lips.

Breathless red curls bounce. Pink fluffy sweater matching pink cheeks. She is late. Heels click fast, hips sway.