There were at most half a dozen of them, all identical, flashy metal ribbons sprouted from the heads and their eyes stared wildly in shock. Oversized pale blue smocks concealed their body shapes and they clutched their belongings tightly to them with a fierce protectiveness. Several of them chatted and sipped bottled water, oblivious to their green and purple faces. All but one-barked instructions into compact mobile phones, the odd one out just peered at her watch, willing time to flow backwards. They should have been embarrassed by their situation like a naked dream as we watched their privacy become public but they seemed to have acquired an ‘in my car’ invisibility and couldn’t care less about us. What should have remained a secret was now out, now we all know how much hard work goes into their seemingly natural preparation. Yes, there’s nothing quite like a fire alarm going off in a beauty parlour to remind us we’re all just mortals