Politix Shoes and an Empty Train Seat (Part 1)

Highs And Lows

The highs and lows of today have been held together like rubber bands. Allow some tension and the band will slacken off in the other direction. The time between my feeling depressed and then getting back into the swing of things was dramatic indeed but my turnaround at the end of the day which had me excel above my expectations into my shadow’s wishes, that was a colossal swing.

Therefore, it is in my best interests to explain exactly what happened upon the closure of work today, the people I talked to and the confidence gained from what was close to bottom at work. Feeling inadequate as I was looked down upon as a culprit today, depression set in to which I was demoralizing myself. However, never has a bounce back into clear skies been such a nimble journey and the best of that is yet to be spoken…

With all my dues firmly out of the way, reading my mail and doing whatever else had to be done, I now begin with my conclusion of work. Straying from our usual exit, Najla left a couple of seconds before me because she had to head out to her night course and therefore, figured we would only part when downstairs anyway. Lately I feel that Najla and I have drifted apart from what has now been made a tradition from a man set on principles.

Gawain In A Cap

However, saving time and energy upon this quarrel in later depiction, I headed out the door seconds later, contemplating whether to head to Pitt Street or straight to the station. Speaking to Mireille as the lift was taking an age, as usual, it was bunched up with people so I decided to take the stairs down. Gawain’s out there and different with his personality, I’ll give him that much.

When waiting for the lifts he was already out of his work outfit, dressed in a cap and casual clothing befitting of his nature. He’s the kind of guy that lives life to the fullest and as he’s only turned twenty himself, I was once at his age and bearing in life. Waving to him as I headed downstairs, I decided it was due cause to head for Politix and see if their new stock had arrived yet.

Politix And My Shoes

These shoes have been an ongoing problem ever since I forked out $180 to buy them. The damage and tear they have suffered is innumerable as real leather would peal and crease as it does. These are the third pair of shoes they have handed me in the span of almost three months and I’m optimistic that in two weeks time when their stock does finally come in, they will give me that ever important phone call.

The surprise of my journey came when I walked around the block to reach the start of Pitt Street. There was a girl that I was keenly following who wasn’t much more than a looker but she had a pinstripe skirt that had a split right up the back middle, I guess an inch or two from where her legs would meet. She didn’t look sluttish at all.

Rather, with a nice lady’s pinstripe work jacket, a mink coat with a silk like material encompassing the whole jacket and then the collar and cuffs being furry made her elegance and suave appearance shine. Deciding to put on the power walk to which one of my steps would equal two of hers, I caught up to her within seconds and traipsed behind her for a little while. Anyway, she led me to the surprise of my little wandering, a brush with fame if you will.

Being two vans parked on the walking strips of Pitt Street near the Gas Station entrance, I noticed a small camera crew and what was a short Tim Bailey, the weatherman for Channel 10’s news. Breezing past him, I didn’t take too much notice of people who were standing around a local spectacle. With an objective in my mind and conjuring those thoughts of power and control, I headed to Politix, clouded but with a once clear perspective of my approach.

Wrecked Shoes And Pinstripes

The shoes weren’t just worn down irrefutably, they have been hurting my little toe on the right food and that side of my foot. It’s from my feet having to squeeze into the shoe to which the right foot always feels uncomfortable at first and judging from the way the sides have stretched and molded to my little toe, I realize that they scrunch my foot up.

In a little while it will become a continuing pain as I can feel it now and I now cringe at the fact of walking around at work. Nearing the end of today, because I had a delivery to accomplish (Which was a determining factor of my stress), my right foot started to ache to which I had to slightly favor my other leg through the day. These listless woes are what I came to rectify and as I had psyched myself, I wasn’t taking no for an answer.

I always seem to think the guys at Politix are going to take me for granted and rob me of a fair deal but as I walked in and noted the same two guys who were there when I bought the shoes, I was pleased to find them amiable. “I’ve come to see you about these shoes again” I mentioned as they looked down and said their usual piece. “Wow, they really are wrecked” one of them noted as they then spoke of getting me a credit note on the shop or the choice of buying new shoes when their new stock comes in within two weeks.

When the reassurance was cushioned, I thought to have a quick look around the room, figuring it would help my ploy just that little bit more of getting my shoes replaced. In this brisk saunter I picked up some close pinstripe pants which I’ve always adored and noting that the material was wool, I walked into the change-rooms to try them on. However, this was different to the excellent wool pants I bought from Gas Station. They just weren’t fashionable enough and had dormant lines, so mainstream and without that touch of class.

Although it was from Politix, I didn’t like the pants that much but I loved the pinstripe and now my next suit purchase will indeed be of that style. Taking fifteen minutes to put on, peruse and take off these pants, I said goodbye to the guy who was chatting to another customer, shook his hand and then was off to St James Station. Walking past Tim Bailey again who was shorter than me, I farewelled the City and made my entry into St James Station at 5:30 p.m.

A Seat On The Platform

Having just heard a train stop and then head off as I was calmly walking down the stairs, I knew it would have been the train for Campbelltown but wasn’t too phased about having to wait around. Walking down to the far left end of the platform, I stood for a couple of seconds glancing at a girl with nice legs showing on the seat and seeing my opportunity as an old guy jumped up for his train, I casually walked over and sat down.

There was no integration other than the probability of our mutual thought and the allured attraction inspired by a whimsical whim. For once, I wasn’t trying eagerly to look out of the corner of my eye or to glance past her view so that I could catch a glimpse of her. Rather, for this one evening, a matured sense had overcome me, defeating the primal urges of curiosity. I found means to be curious in a more benign way, minding my own business when at most we sat.

When she left to jump on her train, another Leb girl took her place to whom was as pleasant as the other. Outstretching my legs straight and crossing them over, I showed no fluid motion or interest towards her and kept behind the line of nosy intrigue. Finally, our train arrived within fifteen minutes and as I jumped on the train following a girl, I soon lost her to find myself a seat.

Claiming The Empty Seat

This is where the intrigue and bringing forth of my courageous self-possession emerged. Walking downstairs, the amassed crowd of people sitting down had only one vacant seat to which my eyes, alike of an eagle were fixed. On one side there was an old guy from an Indian type background and on the other side was a lady looking a couple of years older than me. Simple gaps do attract simple expectations and as a girl passed the seat without glancing upon it, I thought to head over and claim it as my own.

To tell you the truth, the allure of the woman who wasn’t that bad a looker was the basis of my decision to take a seat. I don’t appreciate missed opportunities and I don’t take intimidation lightly. I hate the times when there is a beautiful girl sitting by herself and I walk to another seat out of anxious thoughts that she would think to herself “I know why he sat next to me, sly”.

What I hate more than this little irk is when I pass the opportunity of sitting next to a lady when there is only seats next to men or aged women available. These days, meeting someone is everything and I don’t like seeing two hours of my possibly meeting go to waste because sitting next to some girl on the train could be the best form of pick-up that you could ever come across, so sincere, wholesome…