Performance Indication #18

looking at yourself from afar






- Erik Satie



Date: Friday, December 17, 2004, 6:25 pm
Line: "Daly City" BART train (car 1851x)
Location: between Bay Fair and San Leandro stations


A gaggle of five buoyant young ladies (with one rather large young gentleman in tow) burst onto the train at San Leandro station. They chatter a mile a minute driven by whatever source of perpetual energy teenagers seem to draw from. Are they headed to a concert at the Coliseum? A big night in the City?

One young lady breaks off from the klatch, quickly scouting out the train. She discovers the indication and surreptitiously takes it. She grabs a friend, shows her the indication, and the pair begin scoping out the rest of the train for more "mystery notes."

Meanwhile, the remaining members of the group cluster and discuss the swollen foot of one of the young ladies. Eventually their talk devolves into an animated game of charades. Secretly and silently, the eyes of the other passengers reveal that they too are playing.