#33

Of course people exist outside of their jobs. He knew this. But it was still very disorienting to see two flight attendants in matching navy blue uniforms and nude pantyhose sitting and chatting on the subway. Did they always wear those uniforms? One of them was sipping from a small bottle of red wine, the size they give out on planes. He looked around to see if the rest of the passengers had drinks or snacks, feeling a panic that he had missed the beverage service. He found himself questioning where he was going and whether he had what he needed in the backpack slung over his shoulder. He worried his phone wasn’t in airplane mode, and that they would notice and scold him. One of the flight attendants giggled. She put the empty miniature wine bottle on the ground and when the doors opened at the next stop, and then both attendants stood, smoothed their navy blue pencil skirts down, and walked off single file. The doors closed and the train hitched forward, sending the small bottle rolling down the center aisle. The man kicked it when it came near him, feeling as if he had been the subject of a cruel joke that evening.