Th Girls In Steno, 1970

The Girls in Steno, 1970 When it’s break time the girls all walk together, cigarette-protector cases clasped between their index tapers and their thumbs. On each girl’s fingers glow iridescent lacquers. When break time nears, they peek at each other, twinkle, giggle, nod. When break time comes, a bell rings and the girls rise like Lazarus. High on heels they click in couples down the hall to fill an elevator. They get off at One. There they float across the cafeteria, men everywhere, eyes everywhere. (Is he the one?) When a new girl’s hired the old girls put her to the test: Will she join them for the coffee break? If she does, she joins them forever, even after she marries, retires or expires. Donal Mahoney