a queue

she shuffled her feet forward never once removing her eyes from the second hand of the white wall clock as it chugged around each minute. she could smell the putrid leather of the jacket in front of her and the sickly sweet tang of the perfume behind. she adjusted the shoulder strap of her handbag and bent the strap buckle back and forth with her finger and thumb. Leather Jacket shuffled forward a few paces and she followed close behind, sliding her feet on the waxed linoleum. an elderly lady clutching a bundle of paper hovered to one side, shifting from one slippered foot to the other as she considered her chances of winning enough sympathy to slip to the front. every pair of eyes she met glared back in defiance.

another few steps forward and the perspex shield of the desk at the front of the line was visible through the greasy curls of Leather Jacket's matted hair. specks of dandruff laid like fresh snow across his shoulders. she creased her nose and checked the time on her watch against the wall clock. another few steps forward and Leather Jacket bent forward to speak into the perspex. Perfume pressed against her back and she moved forward slower than necessary, turning to meet the eyes of the face behind. heavy eye-shadow, garish lipstick and a thick coat of cream foundation. the lips pursed at her and with an eyebrow raised she turned back to see Leather Jacket picking up whatever had been pushed through the revolving draw and turn to leave. carried forward by Perfume she pushed her numbered ticket into the draw and met the eyes of the cashier. he looked back with a half smile and she blushed.