In a bus. Evening. A man talking on phone.
“In that situation the shitty gospel music doesn’t bother me. Hallo? Do you hear me? Do you hear me?”
***
Names
On a train. Afternoon. Two girls.
“Eliel is a wonderful name.”
“Yes it is. Do you think that anyone is actually called Figaro? Not as a pet name but really, as a real name?”
“I don’t know.”
***
Indecisive
At a second hand shop. Afternoon. A customer and a cashier.
“And these socks. Um, I’ll take the shoes out, I won’t be taking the shoes. How much is that?”
“But now I need start over…”
“Ok, I won’t take… Hey, was this dress…?”
“Ok, that’s enough fumbling…”
“Yea yea, fine.”
***
Counting cars
On a bus. Morning. A mother and a child.
“I can’t mom, I really just… can’t!”
“Okay.”
“You take the yellow ones and I’ll take the blue ones.”
“Allright.”
“Look there’s one of yours.”
“Mhmm.”
“… there’s one of mine.”
“Let’s get off here, okay. Wait. Thank you.”
***
Bond situation
At a taxi stand. Midday. A man talking loudly, to a queue of people.
“Here we stand in line like happy Carelians. It’s a totally Finnish situation this is, no taxis anywhere. It’s the same in Tampere.”
[a taxi arrives]
“Well now YOU get a taxi. Let’s not make a fuss about THAT. Do these guys understand what I’m saying? My two step brothers have driven a taxi here. I know what this is all about. They don’t have the guts to invest! If there wouldn’t be a university here, lord, the situation would be all double-o-seven. This city is just paralyzed.”
***
Coordinates
On a train. Midday. Man talking on the phone.
“So… He has his practice at the school. Could you go and pick him up? You know how to get there, you drive to the mailboxes. [pause] Wait, I’ll check it from my calendar, it’s right here.”
***
Life in plastic is still fantastic
At a hotel lobby. Morning. Two little girls dancing.
“Come on barbie let’s go party.”
[both]
“A-a-aau yeah!”
***
Just landed
At an airport public lavatory. Afternoon. Mother and child.
“Mom what’s that noise?”
“There are other people in this toilet also.”
“Where’s dad?”
“He’s waiting upstairs.”
***
Departures
At the airport tax-free. Afternoon. A woman holds a bottle of gin.
“The happiness of this trip is guaranteed.”
***
Not regulars
A pub. Late evening. Two women.
“This must have been a narrow shop space. I remember buying batteries…”
“No, the sex shop is that way, then there’s the philatelia, then this.”
“Ah, right.”
***