Subway Stories

Two weeks back, my Studio class took a field trip together out to Van Cortland up in Queens. To get up there, you need to take the 2 or 3 train up to the 96th Street station and then transfer to the 1 and take it allllll the way to the last stop. While on the 1 train, the class divided up into roughly groups of two people per car and had to write an observational narrative about two people we saw in our car.

Here's my first one:

       A woman sits directly across from me with her young boy. He looks to be about 4 or 5 years old. On his light umber curls is a yellow crown with the face of a smiling duck on the front. The mother - let's call her Tanya (she looks like a Tanya) - has the same light umber hair. Her most distinct features are her hazel eyes, a beauty mark right below her right eye, and most importantly, her protruding belly carrying another child. Perhaps it's another boy? Perhaps a girl? It's impossible to tell. What I can tell is that she is tired. Tanya wears a bright red knit jacket, comfortable blue jeans, and brown moccasins. In her right hand, she holds her son's Angry Birds backpack. In her left hand, she holds onto the hand of her little boy. She momentarily takes off her left moccasin to reveal her toe nails painted a creamy beige. Again, Tanya is tired - her eyes are glazed and she focuses on the speckled black flooring of the subway car. She must have just picked up her young one from school. It's about that time where kids get off school. After a few stops of being lost in her own thoughts, Tanya quickly shuffles her child off the car and mentally plans out tonight's dinner during the walk home.

Now for my second one.

       As I take a last glimpse at this man, he continues to munch on his bacon and cheese sandwich. He wears a black cap, a red sweatshirt, and red Nike sneakers. He sits comfortably. There is no one left to disturb the space he has claimed as his throne. The car is empty save for around twelve or thirteen people all engulfed in their own bubbles. While the subway pulls into the next station, he swiftly picks up his bags, adjusts his thick-rimmed glasses, and saunters out the car. The whole time I sit here and write about him, he continues to jubilantly much on his sandwich. It must have been a nice afternoon treat considering he left the car with a smile. Now that is someone who really knows how to appreciate his food.