LUNCH BREAK

I'm sitting at Tasty's between 29th & 30th on Madison. It's a deli with tables in the back.

I have tomato soup and an apple for $4.85.

There are two women eating next to me. It's just the three of us.

These are older, street smart, New York women, who are both intelligent and laughable. If I were a differnt kind of person, I would write them off as pushy older broads. They have New York accents, highlighted hair, and eye-glasses they make gestures with. They talk about aches and pains, about sex, and the about the theatre.

They remind me of the characters Meryl Streep plays so expertly.

Tired, educated, New Yorkish women who make tiny fatigued expressions and talk distactedly about two things at the same time, fishing through their bag (for something). Meryl Streep character behavior.

I'm entranced. A movie at the next table.

One of them picks up her cell phone and mumbles something about being done at the lawyer's office.

They move on to the theatre.
They discover they are both going to the theatre, tonight! And it's a drag, a responsibility.

I think, PLEASE don't talk about that Jane Fonda play but within seconds they are talking about Jane Fonda and 33 Variations and I think, no! NO! NOOO! Don't ruin my little movie, but they do ruin it, they begin to debate it 33 Variations is worth their time and money.

"Jane Fonda is supposed to be great! That review in the times!"

"Who cares? Doesn't she have Lou Gherig's disease? Who wants to go the theater and watch somebody die from Lou Gherig's disease, who wants to see that!"

I leave. I don't want to hear something that will be stuck in my head.

Outside, I let out a sort of a cry and think, Good! I'll have a good cry, a sob session at the entrance to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

It goes nowhere.

I'm not relating to this thing. I don't feel connected to it. (I think)