Train Sketch

The woman and man on the train. She is tall, thin, a strange square head on a long neck, hair yellow from layers of dye. Mouse brown is creeping up from the roots. He has long, thick, frizzy hair, which he has tied in a ponytail. The mass of his hair where it springs a the nape mirrors the shape and size of his head. He's wearing cheap sunglasses with small round lenses, and a handknitted purple scarf. His laughter is stilted and nervous: 'huh. huh. huh'.

When they get on the train, she unpacks her bag, pulling out four different packs of dye and a bottle of apple scented shampoo, which he admires. She boasts that she's spent almost all her dole money already; she needs more conditioner; she can't find black hair ties. She's dressed in glitter and sequins and polarfleece. Tawdry daylight glamour, but a commitment to Pretty? A glamour of glamour

They ride the train with her in his lap. They're daring each other "I've done it before, I'm not scared".

On Monday they listen to Guns 'n' Roses. They're pressed temple to temple and crouched over the cassette player.

There is a curious naivety to the two of them. I suspect them of planning to spend the day watching Disney Cartoons in a damp Upper Hutt flat, unmade bed in a bedsit.