Zurich Hauptbahnhof

He had chosen a table in a corner of the Brasserie Fédérale, far from looks he didn't need. The only stare he was getting was from Niki de St Phalle's nana who was peering in from where she was suspended. But they knew each other well.

He ordered a Guiness. A large one. The larger it was, the longer he could stay. There wasn't much else he had to do. The larger it was, the longer he could talk to it too. Every day he spoke to the beer glass. Hissing abuse. Pausing. Making peace. Pausing. Shaking his finger. Sipping his beer. Nodding in agreement. Biting his lower lip. Swearing that he will never let it happen again. Ever.

she moves forward nevertheless

When she thrusts a leg forward and her foot hits the ground, her knee turns to look at the other knee while her hip swings out sideways. Someone must be holding the strings. But they still don't know how to make her walk properly. When she takes a step, everything collapses from the waist down before she is hitched back into an upright position, ready for the next step.

what a lot of us do

We go by train, by bus, by car, on a bicycle, or on foot.

Every morning of the week
We go to the same place
At the same time
With the same kind of thoughts.

There is no time for change.
No time for dream.
No time for perspective.

Then we sit in front of a screen
Most of the time
In the same office
At the same desk
Every day.

And when evening comes, we do a lot of what we did to get there, only in the opposite direction.

waiting for the train

It was dark already in the town where colour had long been forgotten. The station had been deserted for years. And barbed wire now surrounded whatever life had been left inside. A small hut had been placed on the platform with a bench outside. A man was sitting on it smoking a cigarette. A woman in stiletto heels and a cheap fur coat, with shapeless legs wrapped in pink tights , was dancing to music only she could hear. A young girl was calling home on her mobile. And a man had turned his back on everything, his front pressed against a derelict wall, to relieve himself.

you can't put 'and' at the beginning of a sentence

Her mind was as narrow as the space between her legs.

giggle sigh ooh

The three of you were standing outside the hairdresser's. Hands waving, palms against your hearts, squeaking exclamations. A young bird had fallen off the roof and landed - as well as it could - on the pavement below. There you were, looking down at this little bird. With it looking up at you. Helpless. The four of you. You knew how to deal with hair but you didn't know how to cope with feathers.

Together we picked it up and put it into a small cardboard box. One of you took it to the vet down the road, and came back half an hour later to give everyone the news in small excited pants. It would be fine. Flying soon. You would call every day to see how things were.

A ripple of relief spread through the saloon. Thrilled scissors clipped a lighter clip. And three young men felt closer than ever.

still a wee girl

You had just bought a black evening dress to wear at your first big party. You tried it on with your long slim legs. And put on a pair of tights and high-heeled black shoes. All of a sudden you were ten years older. And beautiful. A young woman.

Ten minutes later, I saw you sitting texting still in your evening wear, with your legs wide apart and your shoulders round.

Lovely.