One day of fast spring
You've just put your jacket and sneakers on, and all of a sudden it is getting cold. The bitter wind is flinging the brims of your coat, of your huge, brown coat, that you've put on this morning, under the giant lanterns, flapping the shadows. Wind doesn't spare a shadow, and there is no mercy for twilight.

You were at street car depot today wandering together with the amateur photographer, and the girl in the red stockings, taking pictures about something like "grown-up kids from the poor neighbourhoods." Yesterday the photographer was saying: "The girl should look like she wants to run away at once. She is dying to hang out with mature, rich men - the characters from the other, the chic life." And it is easy to get all that. We are waiting for her after school. There are red stockings, gray skirt in her bag. Jeans off. She is changing in the restroom at some well known advertising agency. Afterwards we are buying the cheapest bright red lipstic to be found - only for forty five santims. Red lips, red stockings, blond dyed hair, black hooded jacket. "Hey, big world, are you ready for me? Have you made your fat limos, erected hotels ready for me? Have you prepared your tempting beaches, snow white sheets of pay bills and neon packages of crazy candy?..."
" I'm wearing my brown coat of complete evil. Feeling completely furious, smoking a cigar, stooping, with a shaved head, master of these local places, deaf bear of this provincial chic." Here - this is your part and this is the girl. What do you need her for? Just so. Some day she will leave you for a rich man, but for now you both are just sharing this space. Dirty hallways, wise thoughts written on the walls. Here - somebody has overdosed. Not another word on sex above the main entrance door. The wind is blowing, tossing the spring time dust. It is cold. We are buying the cheap scotch to get warmer.The sales man, sensible enough, is pointing at a bottle: "Pretty shitty. I don't advise it, guys." Of course he sold us one of those expensive ones. But still it was a fair deal. The scotch is just what we need in this cold. Twenty five round faces starring at us from the passing bus.

The photographer - young and sophisticated, wearing a black, stylish coat, carrying the big, impressive briefcase. He is offering to take a bus ride to the railway station to take some snapshots. You are objecting: "Listen, so many pictures have already been taken at the railway stations." The photographer quite agrees with you and offers to get out right away. And so you do. You are feeling awkward... You broke him off. " No," he says." Everything is o.k." Besides now you got off at the street car depot. Still air, yellow numb street cars everywhere.
"Where to?" the guard exclaims harshly. Now we have to talk to the boss, who appears to be a sweet lady. She seems to be in a hurry and allows us everything. Now the guard is keaping our company. Long row of yellow street cars, one after the other. The girl is seated in the driver's seat in front of the car. You sit down at the back, smoking a big, aromatic cigar. Sweet taste of smoke in your mouth. Oh, baby, baby! Don't say "may be". The guard is wearing a blue rain - coat, obviously he is freezing. We give him a cigar and invite him for a shot of scotch. "I never drink while working," he announces and takes us to the repair shops. Behind the huge wooden doors there are a few men working. The feeling of a desert solitude. Afterwards we say good - bye and shake hands with the guard, but with no sentiment.

               

We are off to the university canteen. In fact having our meal, then saying good - bye. You get tired in the spring time, although your life is getting more intense. Then you spend the rest of the day methodically smoking your left over cigars. Like having to play that boring part in the play again, wearing the same worn - out attire. In a few days it begins to snow heavily. You need some excersising in the morning. When spring comes with a frost all our tenants get together in the basement shooting - range to shoot at empty bottles. Brooding cats desperately trying to get warm by the heating fans. In any case - even the sun can be dangerous- an ozone gap above the city from March 8. So all the red - haired and pale people are wearing pink petal masks. And they look very mysterious. As if secretly sneaking to meet something quite alien.

photo by                    translation by IEVA AUZINA