Where This Train Terminates

There’s this man walking up and down the train. His face is elastic and rust. He’s wearing a black peacoat and nondescript jeans. Pacing jauntily as the train stumbles—up and down.

I glimpsed his face (his beady eyes) as I entered the farthest carriage. I walked slowly up and down with my shiny pink backpack—sensing the tension of each human face—looking for newsprint.

I’d crossed three carriages and No Metro. Slowly, I walked back to the end and chose a seat across a frizzy ginger with a peg on her nose.

This man—rose to his feet and proceeded to pace, slowly and stumbling—a restless dance. He ventured close and my body tensed. Would I, too, rise and pace, puff out my chest and pointed chin?

He wandered and sat and rose again and sat elsewhere. Blonde and made of wax in black (peacoat), blue (jeans) and scuffed brown (brogues).

How close dare he swing?
Then, he was next to me and lingered.
Everything became the occupation of space.
The plastic divider to my left.
Shiny pink backpack on the floor.
Neon hightops.
Click of the keys.
Click of his shoes.

On and off the train. Strangers on every carriage. Engraved with sharp lines. It’s almost unreal. Each one—and he disappeared to my left. I looked twice, but he didn’t return.

Across from me (redhead alit), a bald man carrying an enormous ball, swinging a silver beaded bracelet—singing intermittently.

A pale woman with big wet pools staring up in a woolly hat pulled thus—and I felt gravely that to each of us was a world of intention and feeling and figuring—replaced by a lanky black girl with blue bow and hair so straight and waterproof boots.

And the small woman to my left with a nose like a cotton ball bubbling in a language I don’t recognise until, “I will be looking forward to seeing you.” Others wander up and down the carriages—but not like this man.

I think—the anxiety, “Our final stop. Thank you for travelling with London Overground. All change. Please keep your luggage with you at all times. And report anything suspicious to a member of staff.”