I felt the Subway under my feet....

My friends had long ago entered this shop and were looking at T-shirts. T-shirts are not my cup of tea, so after a minute I was ready to step out and wait for them. It was strange, almost closing time and even the Broadway felt half deserted already. After my fag I started off opposite and down the street a little to look at the window pane of that shop in pink. It was actually called something-pink, and for a while my attention was attracted to it. I approached it and finally knew what the shop was about. Some sort of product for the hair. Somehow, it seemed as if your hair would become pink if you dyed it with that thing...that was the first impression, anyhow. There were pictures of smiling people and a few lines telling you the amazing story of the product. This was America.

I started hearing two women talking to a little girl. Both of them were saying to the girl that she should wear a jumper, but they spoke quickly and loud, and I couldn´t help but turn around. One of the women looked at me and made me a sign showing some distress but laughing. My first impulse was to look away. Afterwards I realised they were kind of trying to make me participant of the situation, if only for two seconds. But, you see, I have lived in Great Britain for a long time, but not in America.

It´s not a secret for anybody that people of Britain are not keen on showing their emotions and are very discreet in their day to day lives. After almost 8 years, I learned to look away when the little kid in the underground cried and the mum was unable to quiet him. It was embarrasing to show that you heard. Embarrasing for them, and embarrasing for you too. Americans are different, I believe they are more sympathetic with little things in life, and like showing it too.

It was then that I felt the Subway under my feet, a couple of yards away. So quiet over here, and a whole life going on underneath the asphalt. I then saw my other friend opposite the street, and crossed to meet her. Back to real life.