by Bill Nye
First published 2017
A woman exits a shop after spending time browsing without buying anything. She encounters an acquaintance in the doorway. If she likes this other woman, she acts friendly. If she dislikes her, she becomes extremely cordial. The two women plant themselves directly in the shop entrance and begin talking. Shoppers must dodge around them and glare. Others bump into the pair, who glare back. The women create a knot of confusion but never consider stepping aside. They would behave this way anywhere, even on a fire escape during a rescue or outside the Pearly Gates on Judgment Day. After finishing her conversation, the woman heads to the corner and boards a streetcar. Her high heels and tight skirt slow her climb aboard. The car has comfortable seating available at the front, but she never looks around to check. Instead, she stops halfway down the aisle and grabs a hanging strap. She sways there, appearing helpless and uncomfortable, surrounded by male passengers. Her thoughtless behavior disrupts everyone around her.
Genres: humor, 20th-century, american, 19th-century
Vibes: intimate, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: slice-of-life
Period: 19th-century, 20th-century
Paperback · Createspace Independent Publishing Platform