a) greaser

He is like a rocker or a greaser. At a glance he looks big
and tough and when he plonks down next to me the impact sends me
sideways with my head nearly hitting the train window. I don't mind him
sitting there but my friend Carol pulls a face. She is very cagey and
doesn't talk to strangers. We're sitting in the buffet car on our way
to the ferry. We wonder if there are going to be many punks in Dublin.
Carol said there weren't many last time. Whereas I don't mind people
staring or laughing, she does.

After about
fifteen minutes of resting his head in his hands on the table and
slowly scratching his scalp (you can see some skinflakes suspended in
the blonde hair and coming nearer to the ends) he rustles around in a
Dixons carrier bag and brings out a bottle.

&;quot;Fancy some whisky?&;quot; he says.

It's about 11 .30 am so I don't suppose it's that
early to start drinking. I hesitate.

&;quot;I've
got some cups&;quot; he adds reading my
mind.

 &;quot;Is it neat?&;quot; I ask
&;quot;only I don't normally drink whisky&;quot;

&;quot;Best thing there is on a cold
day&;quot; he says reminding me of someone called May at the corner
shop I once lived next to. He has a round baby face and bloodshot blue
eyes. Now I see he isn't tough at all , just a heavy metal freak.

&;quot;Fancy some whisky?&;quot; he says in
Carol's direction, his voice trailing off.

 I
know she isn't really asleep but listening. She always says I can't
meet someone without dragging their entire life story out of them. In a
few hours time she'll be telling her parents how worried I make her
feel sometimes, my being so open. I don't really want this guy
to rest his head on my shoulder but he does, only for a couple of
seconds. I smile to myself wondering if my spiky hair will poke him in
the eye.

 After that the waters seem to have
broken and he talks non-stop for an hour about his older brother who's
a wanker in the army and his mother who puts up with a load of shit
from the neighbours and the journey passes quite pleasantly.

He leads quite a boring life though.