On the ferry

Saturday afternoon, the Star Ferry was busy with tourists. The air was thick, humid and polluted. I got onto the ferry and found a seat next to two young women. They were busy chatting. I looked down and saw that I was wearing identical flip flops as the woman next to me. Her toes long and skinny, her toe nails dark red.

The ferry was full and a few people had to stand. I have never seen this happen before.

It was noisy, and seemed as if everyone was talking to someone, except me. The woman next to me had her head turned towards her companion, whilst twisting a lock of hair with her fingers. I thought her hand might touch me. The seats were very close.

She spoke with a North American accent, in a stream-of-consciousness kind of way. She was doing most of the talking. I thought they might be exchange students. She seemed to be commenting on life in Hong Kong. All her sentences began with "... and you know what?..."

".... and you know what? .... social studies class yesterday.... like, we are the top two percent elite! .... we have access to books, films, art.... you know what? If we don't do something about... it's up to us, you know? ... and you know what? .... a mission... must do something, we can really do something...."

I wanted to turn round and look at her face. I kind of did, a little, but all I saw was masses of curly brown hair, her fingers twisting around a lock.

Social Studies class? That would be high school.