Outside, the world rushed by, graffiti streaking the motion blur of grey. On the seat beside my friend, I was bored. Where was the adventure? Wearing multicoloured dots, a girl is destined for a wider world than the back and forth, the nine to five.
When my friend pushed her way to the door, her grey coat quickly lost in the crush of commuters, I couldn’t help it–my skirts trilled with excitement. The adventure begins! As the train pulled out from the station, now mostly emptied, I sat by the window, unobtrusively watching.
There was an elderly man looking my way, but I could already tell that he wouldn’t risk getting up. A few seats over, a young Asian woman in an adorable pleated skirt and high sock combo looked down at her phone giggling. She looked liked fun. Despite my repeated efforts of subliminal suggestion, the girl’s head remained bowed, her ponytails bobbing as she laughed. Ah well, her loss.
What do you mean I’m in a huff? All that from a rustle of my raiment? The indignant is all in your interpretation.
It’s just…I have to be invited along. I’m no unwanted tag-along.
After riding around for several hours, a woman got on her with her young daughter. Swinging her feet shyly, the girl looked at me. Trust me, adorable with a capital A.
“Look at the pretty umbrella Mummy.” I liked her even more. The child clearly had good taste. “Can we take it?”
The mother turned from her book, focusing through her glasses on the other side of the seats. “Hmm. I guess we do need an umbrella. Sure honey.”
Gingerly sliding from the seat, the little girl gently picked me up. Her hands smelt like honey and were sticky. I was placed reverently in the little girl’s lap. I could get used to this treatment.
When we disembarked, I was swinging by the little girl’s side.
“The zoo!”
Even I flinched at that supersonic squeal. The smell of the animals was certainly a giveaway. I love the zoo; all those interesting animals.
The sun was struggling through the clouds and I knew I would be put away.
Gently pushing at the edges of the mother’s conscious mind, I made her think of the sun on her darling’s tender skin.
“Why don’t you open the umbrella Madeline? You can keep the sun off.”
Good to know my powers of persuasion weren’t failing.
We walked around the zoo, admiring the beauty of all the animals. I liked the orangutans best; they always look like little furry Buddhas to me.
Madeline got really excited at the baby elephant. “Look Mummy. He’s really small and hiding.”
In all that excitement, she forgot to pick me back up again. As it was getting late in the afternoon, I was ignored. I didn’t mind.
It was almost closing time when she arrived. Pink, spiked hair and a smartly cut leather jacket. The twinkle of all her piercings caught my eye. But it was the sharp awareness in those grey eyes that made me like her. She didn’t miss a trick. With her long lens, she was taking shots of mother and baby, completely focused.
I almost thought I was going to have to trip her, so powerful was that focus. Eventually though, she picked out the polka dots. “Oh, you poor thing. Left behind.”
She brushed my dust off and tucked me into the side of her backpack.
Suddenly, a rock song blared beside me. With deft maneuvering, she flicked it into her hand, and started packing up her gear.
“Hey Jen!”
“Oh, that’s ok sweetie. I go tomorrow. But listen; I’ll be back from New York before you know it.”
New York! That was where a stylish girl should be. Now this would be the start of a grand adventure.