Reading: "KALAS" (A.Glass 2020)

The café attendant hands the takeaway coffees to the two women, with Nelkin paying, they move past the patrons crowding into the corner shop cafeteria, walking back onto Front Street, Nelkin and her friend eye the row of court yard seats in front of the Fando & Wilshed Investment bank building. As they walk towards the seating, in the same direction there appears to be a film crew approaching various people. A man moves forward in front of the two women.

“Good afternoon, I'm an independent film maker and we are asking people working on Wall Street about the beginning of this new decade with some basic questions. Do you mind if we ask you. What do you think about computers?”

Nelkin and Regio look at each other in a curious manner, with Regio slightly standing in front of Nelkin, she sips her coffee.

“Sure...So, computers?”

“What do you think? In just one sentence,” the interviewer asks, as the camera man films.

“Typing and instant communication.”

Nelkin steps forward, looking at the camera, flicking her dark brown hair back.

“It's an information orientated society and it's becoming faster all the time.”

Regio nods in an agreeing manner at her friend's comment, as she takes a sip from her coffee.

“What do you think about that?” The interviewer asks.

“It's the way its becoming, everything is so fast paced these days, our society is more and more interconnected as communication networks become computerized.” Nelkin also sips her coffee, staring into the camera. Making out her reflection. She discreetly licks her lips, ensuring that the milky residue of coffee is not on her lipstick.

“What are your jobs?”

“Personal assistant, investment bank,” Regio replies

“I’m a trader assistant, Foreign Exchange,” Nelkin says smiling.

“Do you think that it will be a good thing for society, instant communication.”

“Yeah,” Regio replies, as Nelkin narrows her eyes staring into the camera lens, focusing on the question.

“It can't be helped, good or bad, but, with computers and networks becoming faster and more direct with communication. I think we're gonna overdose on it.”

“Thank you for your time,” the interviewer says, moving on with the his film crew, approaching other people in the street. Nelkin and Regio sit down on the bench, in a shaded part.

“Overdose on information?” Regio asks.

“Feels like it, on the FX floor, new computer systems instant information coming from Europe and the world...” Nelkin sips her coffee as a milder south west wind is felt, the last of the New York city heatwave seemly begins to give way to its cooler change. “...Weather is strange at the moment I reckon.”

“This sudden change...” Regio looks up at the skyscrapers surrounding the two women sitting

“Yeah from crazy heat to cool...” She sees a torn newspaper article adrift by the wind, moving further up Front Street...” Nelkin turns towards her friend. “...Now, tell me the gossip.”

“Well, probably not the place...” She shifts herself around, eyeing the building where both her and Nelkin work.

Nelkin raises her eyebrows in a surprised way. “Oh dear...” As Regio sips her coffee. She holds up her right hand, with her thumb, she rubs the gold ring on her index finger, she then moves the thumb to the finger between the middle and pinky, tapping it underneath.

“He's married?”

“Shh,” Regio says.

“So, not a new boyfriend?”

Regio chuckles quietly shaking her head in a jaunty manner. “Nope”

___

Reading:  "KALAS" (A.Glass 2020)