stalking? you be the judge
good morning
happy monday
for me
its going to be a short week
I fly off
on
Wednesday
to
Santa Fe
dont you wish you were me
meanwhile
its going to be a
very busy
2 days here at the office
getting things tied up
in
neat knots
hoping
none
unravel
while I am photo hunting
last week
I
'ran into'
a fellow commuter
I dont know him
but
have seen him
several times
several mornings
waiting for the subway
in the same spot
I do
we native New Yawkers
who subway it
(I do believe thats a transitory verb)
know
just where to stand
just where the doors open
which car to ride in
so you can walk off
head out
closest to where you need
to
end up
Times Square
is my stop
the last car
on the downtown train
lets one out
steps away
from the steps
up and out
of the subway
disgression again!
I stand in the same spot every morning
as does every other rider
its sort of
in our genes
this man dresses casually
he's trim
but
he sweats
I know this because
he carries in his back pocket
a sort of 'nudgy'
a Linus' blankie
okay
a small square piece of towel
moping his balding head
many times
he also
doesnt hold on
when he's inside the train
so when the train speeds up
or
takes a turn
he often is thrown off balance
falling
into
whoever
is nearby
apologizing
as he tries to regain
what
I call
'subway stance'
a way of standing
balanced
legs spread
just the right amount apart
to keep you on keel
while still holding on
just in case
do I sound like a stalker?
actually
he fascinates me
ever since
I saw him chatting
with
a very well dressed woman
while
waiting for the train
they both got on
they'd been talking
well
he'd been talking
she didnt seem to have much to say
when we got to 72nd Street
she told him she was getting off
taking the express
they said ta ta
her relief was evident
at least to me
we got to Times Square
and
in that way
that is so
New York
as our local pulled in
so
did the express
she stepped off the express
just as he stepped off the local
I know
I was right behind him
Hey
he said
I must tell you
her
expression
was
not
oh good I missed you
it was
oy he's back
and
yet
they both walked off
to the shuttle
together
making me
wonder
again
how they come to know one another
