Looking at the world with music blasting in headphones is
completely different that being in reality. You see a worker laugh and smile at
the café you sit in and an older woman across the room looks worried and talks
with earnest to her friends. Managers seem cocky and slightly rude, customers
are either hurried or linger with no seeming in between. I wonder if they are
happy or even mildly content with what the world has given them.
A little girl stares at my tattoos. I stick out my tongue at
her while her mother isn’t looking and she ducks behind mom’s arms. I look away
when her mom looks back at me. Every now and then at 28 I must act like I’m
four. It is necessary for life. As I look back to my computer screen to avoid a
mother’s stare I wonder if that little girl has a fighting chance. Does her
mother protect her from evil looking tattooed women who stick their tongues out
at their children? Does she protect more than that? Does she have the emotional
bandwidth to give that little girl what she needs? I hope so. They get up to go.. the girl turns
around and sticks her tongue out at me. I smile. Well played little one. Well
played.
The notes hit my ears as I see the world around me float by
as if on beat. It’s Friday and there’s an air of ease. Labor day weekend is
upon us and the light hearted feel of the majority of patrons is evident. The
workers seem slightly bored if not in good spirits and the rooms I sit in
slowly empties. I am quite alone with my music and my oatmeal cookies and tea. It is a pleasant place to be. I sit in
it. Slightly chilled by the air conditioning. I curse myself for leaving my
jacket in the car as I get distracted by another bite of oatmeal cookie.
