15 Minutes

I’m on the tube. I’ve got a purple dress on a hanger, a shoulder bag, a rucksack, a ring binder and 15 minutes to get to dinner. I’ve managed to wash my hair, bent over a sink in the history department but its ends are still wet and I’m unfetchingly bundled up in jeans and jumpers. There’s nothing for it; I sit in the furthest corner of the carriage and tell James to keep watch.

Between Holburn and Chancery Lane, and half-hidden behind James’ overcoat, I strip off my jumper and struggle into the top half of my dress, tugging it down. As we head towards St Paul’s I yank off my boots and socks, stand up and quickly unzip my jeans, wriggling them off as I pull down my skirt. James helps me pull them over my feet and zips up my dress.

Then I make a mistake. With a choice between stockings and make up I go for make up next, quickly brushing out my hair and tying it back with a slide then peering into a tiny compact mirror, angled towards the light as I poke myself in the eye with a mascara brush. I look like a startled panda but it will have to do.

Shit, now I’m at Liverpool Street and suddenly it’s very busy but I can’t put it off any longer so I cross my legs and roll my stockings on. James smiles placidly at anyone who stares and begins gathering up the debris of my quick change act, stuffing disregarded clothes into bags.

We stand on the platform at Bethnal Green and I steady myself against his arm as I squeeze my feet into my shoes and put on lipstick.

“Well, will I do?”

James looks at me quizzically, makes me turn around. “I think you’ve got your dress on inside out Lu, but apart from that…”

“What!”

“I’m teasing, I’m teasing, you look like a very lovely plum, now hurry up, we’re late.”

Comments

[Loki]

You don't happen to have pictures from this adventure do you? You is stockings is probably more than I could endure.