Thursday is another boring day of wandering, food and movies. The highlight of my day is going grocery shopping and going to the laundromat. And then Friday rolls around and everything changes again. I live the weirdest double life now. The past few days have been absolutely crazy. Every other day there has been an interview and every other day I’ve been thrown into a crazy world of famous hormonal teenage boys. The weird part is I already feel like I’ve been working with them for a long time but I’ve only just met them.
It’s another interview today. They’re promoting their new tour or something
It’s cloudy and overcast today which I don’t mind too much as I head out for the Tube.
I walk down the stairs, and make my way over to the entry area. Hundreds of people wearing suits and headed to work surround me, I feel trapped. Big crowds kind of freak me out. Great that I’m working with a boy band who is constantly surrounded by people. I ponder this idea for a moment as I slide my ticket through the machine, and then going to find my train.
I find it easily and unfortunately it’s the most crowded train. I ride for a few stops jostling back and forth, trying not to bump into anyone. My bag is growing heavier and heavier and I regret bringing so much shit along with me.
A young attractive guy offers me his seat and I blush and say no thank you but he insists so I agree and take his seat. It’s amazing how nice some people can be. I don’t think I’ve ever given up my seat for anyone and that makes me feel guilty.
I people watch for a little while.
Next to me sits a middle aged woman engrossed in one of my fathers books, Our Last Summer Together, and I can’t help but almost gag. When the book came out a few years ago I tried to read it but couldn’t make it through the first three chapters. It was incredibly cliche and too gushy and unrealistic. I couldn’t stand how perfect and misunderstood each character was.
There’s an elderly couple sitting across from me and for some reason I can’t stop staring at their hands. They are intertwined, warn down, freckled and wrinkly from old age. The mans hands lace together with the woman’s. I find myself imagining their story. I do this sometimes when I’m really bored.
They’ve been married 63 years and met during World War II. He was a soldier, she was a nurse. She saved his life and they got married right after the war ended. They have four children and tons of grandchildren.
I slid out my sketch pad, flipping to a blank page and begin to roughly sketch out their hands praying every stop is not their stop as I continue to sketch. The elderly man shoots the woman a toothy smile and she blushes making her face even more wrinkled. It’s a beautiful think to see. By the time it’s my stop I’ve got the basics of the picture sketched out and have taken a mental picture so that I can finish the rest of the drawing later.
It’s a ten block walk from the Tube stop to the studio from so Lou is going to come pick me up. Plus the interview is live today so all of the fans will be there in their masses trying to get a glimpse of One Direction.
I see Lou’s car pull up and immediately head for the passengers seat. I can see Lux in the back which surprises me a little bit. She’s shaking some rattle toy up and down very passionately.
“Hello love!” Lou welcomes me as I slide into the car.
“Hey Lou, thanks so much for the ride,” I thank her earnestly.
She shrugs as she begins to drive, “Don’t worry about it, I wouldn’t want you to get trampled by fans or something!” I buckle my seatbelt and turn sideways to peer back at Lux who smiles widely and babbles a few words. I can’t help but smile at how adorable she is. “ I had to bring Lux today,” Lou begins to explain, “Tom’s busy with work and no one could babysit. The boys love her and everything but I don’t know how I feel about her being in magazines or surrounded by screaming teenage girls.”
