Week 7: Character Studies

So I'm out doing errands in a local department store and I find myself waiting for some assistance from one of the sales associates and I find my mind wandering a bit. Normally I'm pretty patient but today I'm a little edgy, too many things to do and not enough time to do it in I suppose. So to take my mind off things I take a look around my surroundings and indulge in one of my favorite pastimes: People watching.

Some people think I'm crazy, but it really can be pretty interesting. Let's take this guy walking by me for example: He's your a-typical twenty-something, the warm weather has prompted him to wear a blue T and an open button up with the sleeves rolled up. Short, spiked hair and aviators worn inside hint at someone who follows the trends (Though I'm a bit far behind to really be an expert) as well as a solid self confidence that is only accented by the length of his stride and the way he mows down on that dentyne ice. Most likely he's returning from a few weeks break from Orono or maybe just out and about after that next pair of designer jeans. Or I could be completely wrong and he's off to change and clock into work; at any rate my attention is drawn back around as the sales clerk finally makes her way around to me.

I can already tell it's been a crap day for the poor girl. Her shoulder length blond hair is slightly out of place, with a few strands falling from the confines of her ponytail and into her eyes. She bats at these rogue hairs as she greets me with a weary smile. 'Jenn' as her name tag reads is trying her level best to not let the rest of the day bleed through in our interactions which is certainly to her credit; having worked retail before I can empathise with how nasty people can be. Despite her contained fluster her uniform is still presentable, the red polo straight and her kakies unwrinkled which leads me to believe that she has a decent ability to handle stress despite the tired look in her eyes. I find out she's in her third year of college while we look for my desired items, which I nod and chalk the tired look up to that. After all I'm in the same sort of boat as her. It's a short exchange, nothing really substantial then I'm off once again to continue my way into retail land.