I’m sitting out of your view, bottom right corner of the photo. It’s the fourth train of the day, the 6:16 am to Grand Central. Standing room only. Sort of.
That’s him, with The Case. Large. Brown. Leather. It’s gotta be 20″ x 14″, an old school Beast. The four brass nubs protecting the base have lost their sheen. And Case, takes up an entire seat. The commuter across from Case, has to sit diagonally to avoid contact. Overhead storage is empty, the vestibule has four riders standing for the 50 minute duration.
A Suit walks down the aisle looking for a seat, slowing as he approaches Case’s Owner. He pauses to see if there is recognition, there is none, he elects to avoid contact, and pushes on to the next train car.
Case’s Owner wears gold wire rimmed glasses, a gold wedding band and black slip-ons, adorned with unmistakeable gold buckles, Ferragamo’s. His heavy wool navy sport coat is oversize and he’s tie-less with an open shirt collar. Hair, on top, on front, on sides has long since abandoned him, but keeps his occiput warm.
His eyes pan the pages of a magazine, glossy ads shimmering – cologne, Calvin Klein underwear, Piaget watches. He flips the magazine onto the seat across from him and grabs another. Yes, across from him, there, in the top middle left of the photo, occupying yet another seat, are two other magazines. The train rocks forward, he slides his hand over the left corner of the Case, pulling it back. He does feel The Case edging off the seat.
Three commuters, two students and a nurse, each see the empty seats from the platform at Harlem & 125th. They board the train, turn left to grab a seat. Case’s Owner doesn’t lift his head, they frown and turn back to stand in the vestibule.
We pull into Grand Central. He collects his magazines, and flips open The Case, the two buckles snap and echo in the train car. He tosses his magazines in.
He exits. I follow.
I catch him a few yards ahead, slow to his pace, and close in – wanting, no needing to get a look. My shadow sucks up the excess oxygen, he looks up.
I pause, pass Judgment and walk on.
There, feel better?
Notes:
- Inspired by: “When I label people, I no longer have to deal with them thoughtfully. I no longer have to feel overwhelmed by their complexity, the lives they live, the dreams they have. I know exactly where they are inside—or forever outside—my field of care, because they’ve been taken care of. The mystery of their existence has been solved and filed away before I’ve had a chance to be moved by them or even begun to catch a glimpse of who they might be. They’ve been neutralized. There’s hardly any action quite so undemanding, so utterly unimaginative, as the affixing of a label. It’s the costliest of mental shortcuts.” ~ David Dark, Life’s Too Short to Pretend You’re Not Religious
- Photo: Mine on Metro North.
- Related Posts: Commuting Series.
No one said anything to him…? If it happened in here, I can’t imagine, what would be?
Thank you dear Dave, have a nice day and weekend, Love, nia
No. At that was the interesting point. You would think this being NY, someone would have….thanks Nia. Have a great weekend.
Ah, if only one person had asked to sit there – he may have redeemed himself. Or not.
Ah yes. If only.
It’s so easy to label. I do it all the time. To think we know the inner workings of a complex unique mind is funny. At the end of the day, we know nothing. Infact, most of us know nothing about who we are, let alone anyone else, and it’s an illusion to think that we do. Always love your writing. I’m right there with you. 😎
Thank you Karen. Yes, we do label, judge, condemn. Reminds me of Cicero:
“It is the peculiar quality of a fool to perceive the faults of others and to forget his own.”
~ Marcus Tullius Cicero
Perfect quote. 🙏🏻
Now that is one train I would have loved to be on.
Why didn’t you trip him?
LAUGHING!
Who knew what was in that Giant Case? You never know!!!!
Thank you for taking a picture. Looks tight in there. I’m only 5’5″ and I feel cramped looking at it.
It is. Flying, trains – packed in like sardines in a can.
definitely, a great read David!
Loved those shiny black shoes….
Karen’s thoughts were so fascinating; Sawsan with the tripping idea had me in stitches 🙂
Thank you Debi. Appreciate it. And still laughing at Sawsan’s comment.
yes!! 🙂
I’d not have said a word. I would have just taken my seat on top of that case.
You go Van!
As my daughters occasionly remind me, “Dad, some days it just really is about me” Maybe he was having one of those days?
Could be Ray. Could be.
maybe he bought an extra ticket just for The Case…
Ha! May be!
Somehow, David, this doesn’t fit the image I have of New Yorkers! I’d have expected someone to have challenged him. Guess I’ll have to rethink my ‘judgment’! 😉 😉
You must Carolyn. I find NYers to be quite polite.
Done… Re-thinking, David, as I type! 🙂
Excellent!
Enjoyed this post. So much humanness! I also was caught by your “inspired by” quote.
Thank you Peg!
Reminds me of one of my favorites of yours “Driving. Exit 9” about the panhandler and the jerk in the corvette.
You should have clipped the heel of his Ferragamo’s from behind. Watch him have to put his shoe back on.
Don’t you hate it when that happens?
I’m a firm believer we mostly earn our labels. I know I have.
Laughing. We used to call clipping heels “giving someone a flat tire”! Thank you.
his case, its space, and lack of eye contact are his protective shields from the world.
Must be Beth. Must be.
It says a lot about him. Me, me, me! Not a person I would care to know. Great job of writing it, David. Nicely done.
Yes. Same here Anneli. Thank you.
Not someone I would wish to know in any universe. AND I would have gotten a full frontal/face shot of him as well! Made a poster, put in in the train station – but this is as much fantasy as the chance that I would Ever live in a city, amen. Anyway, another fun tale from DK, enjoying finally exploring your blog now and again in between walks on ocean cliffs and tending to my garden 😉 Have a great weekend!
Smiling. Thanks Bela. Oh, what it must be like to live like Bela on fantasy island!
It’s a necessity, truly. One simply settles into a life, wherever it may be. I’m just not one who can survive the chaos of city living, nor can I maintain illusions in my head for long without having my nature batteries recharged. Too easy to fall prey to the sobering facts of human desecration to this gloriously green and spinning globe. Aloha, David <3
Beautifully captured Bela. All a miracle.
A full blown narcissist or maybe related to Trump. ☺☺☺
Perhaps on former, ha! On latter.
Enjoyed your vivid and well illustrated case study in proxemics, David.
Proxemics is the study of human use of space and the effects that population density has on behaviour, communication, and social interaction
Helen, I learned something today. Word and study is new to me. Thank you.
You already have a long and growing list of interesting case studies, of which the Case is a good example 🙂
Truth!
Oh, I loved this. The non-confrontation seemed very British to me–so subtle, so unoffensive. My guess is that he was oblivious.
Oh, no doubt he was oblivious. And no that you mention it, British is was…
When seeing something like this, or when in the car and seeing some particularly asinine (judgmental, me?) driver, I would say to my daughter, “That’s pretty selfish behavior.” So, reading your thoughts, I’m thinking the same….he’s so totally oblivious to others!! And then your post script note! Smacks me right in the face. And deservedly so. I’m appreciative of the thought-provoking challenges you provide, Dave.
PS: And now another rabbit hole….I need to go read David Dark.
You know, I need to do that too…
Smiling. Those smacks in my face seem to be a daily occurrence. Thank you Roseanne.
So, you’ve met my brother… dirty looks are never enough. Only public shame can get past the chink in the armor. Thanks for stirring it up so beautifully!
Smiling. Thanks Val!
FYI I can’t get onto your site to like or comment. What was happening to other sites, is not happening with yours now … I expect it will sort itself out. Know that I’m still around 😉
Hmmmmm. I wonder what’s going on. Thanks for heads up Val.
“Excuse me, I’d like to sit down.”
That’s what I say, and I don’t move until they clear the seat. Done. (Yes, very NY of me.) Given that our commuter ticket prices just went up AGAIN — and God knows, my income has not, in many years — no one hogs a seat on a train I’m in.
NYC/area is jammed with the Massively Entitled. Whatever. I want to sit down. NOW.
🙂
Smiling. I applaud this approach. Bravo. The Canadian in me would push on to the next train car.
Noooooo!
I think you’ve probably lived here a while as well; (I’ve been here 20+ years), so that polite/less assertive thing? Not so much.
As my (modest, quiet but tough) American husband loves to remind me: “Now is not the time to be Canadian!” 🙂
Laughing. Now is not the time to be Canadian.
Right? You know it’s true.
Loved that.
🙂
Extremely large personal bubble…a different type of man spreading…wonder if a kind, captivating, beautiful, quick witted, early riser blue haired, tiny women reminding him of his mother could have wiggled a seat share? Even though those Ferragamo’s,, graced his feet, at least He didn’t use his case as a breakfast table! The vibe of his presence must have been intimidating..<<<though I try not to assume…he must have a value of thrift holding on to a relic of a case?
Smiling. Wonderful comment. You were missed here Christie. Love the at least it wasn’t a breakfast table.
Hi, TY 🙂 should have said thankfully he didn’t use PS: did you get a new suitcase?
🙂 !