On the Nanboku line

A recorded voice reminds everyone again and again to switch their cellphones off and give up their seats for elderly people, and a poster on the wall shows a female hand seizing a man's arm and thrusting it into the air: the message is 'Groping is a Crime!' Under the poster a woman sits and clutches a shiny white paper bag that says 'SOFULOL: Sophisticated Full Length Office Lady', like she's a coat to be draped over a salaryman's arm. Three schoolgirls get in and plonk themselves down on the seats. Simultaneously, as if controlled by the same joystick, they each take out a pink plastic-backed mirror the size of an A4 exercise book and begin to preen themselves, suddenly frozen by their own reflections, fingertips patting and stroking strands of fringe which already sit stiffly unmoving. A middle-aged man with white hair and a towel around his neck huffs and puffs, then pulls out a pretty paper fan and vigorously fans himself for three stops. Further down the carriage two 'Go-su-lo-li's (Gothic Lolitas) sit side-by-side with legs spread like rag dolls, heels out and toes turned in, one plump, one skinny, black hair dyed blacker, platform boots and white makeup, clutching designer handbags, adorned all over with the Vivienne Westwood motif. Goths gone posh. A salaryman sweats over his briefcase next to an old lady who gives everyone grumpy looks. Next to me is a young mother and on the other side of her is her little boy who is leaning on her lap and chatting away to her. When he sees me, he says 'Look mum, it's a foreigner!' I give him a sideways smile and he gives me a big grin back. I wonder what it will be like to be home again and have no-one staring at me anymore. I wonder if I will stop staring at everyone else.