Subway Scene

The subway came to a jolting stop. A mass of travelers scooted out of the train, while others bumped into each other to enter. A few people plugged into their iPods. A group at one end of the train engaged in loud debate and frequent laughter. The rest of the train remained quiet and somber. Steadily, the train gained speed to a cruise. The air-conditioning whispered overhead. The tracks rumbled underneath.

The door between cars opened. A thin boy around eighteen trudged into the train-car. His hands were leathery and dirty. His forearms bore two smudged tattoos: a spider web and a fading cross. His face was blank. His eyes stared ahead, perpetually. His head tilted down. New Yorkers continued reading their newspapers. Tourists peered at the curious sight. They whispered to each other.

He recited with a pitchy voice, “Hello, everyone. My name is John.” Taking off his hat, he continued, “I’m in a rough spot in life and I could really use the help. I’m broke. I’m homeless. I don’t have anyone to go to for help.” Pausing in the middle of the train, his head motioned from side to side aimlessly. “All I’m asking for is a little help.” His voice pitched at the end and the plea sounded like a question. “Anything will help.” He faced the train’s passengers with his empty eyes. He swallowed hard, as his head gradually fell further.

As he walked down, he offered his hat right and left. One women, sitting cross-legged, whirled her head away. Her hands tensed around her purse. The hat continued down the train. One anonymous dollar made its way into the hat. He stood before the travelers one last time. His eyes broke from their stare and darted from one person to another. No eyes met. His shoulders sunk. Turning, he put on his hat. He drew in a breath tediously. His hands gripped the handle to the door between the trains. He hesitated for a moment. Then, raising his head, he pulled the doors apart.

The train came to a jolting stop. A train-car emptied and filled with more quiet and somber travelers. The door between cars opened. A boy emerged from the previous car. His head angled down. “Hello, everyone. My name is John.”