Courtesy on the C-train

Getting on the train downtown, my attention was drawn to a well dressed young man. "He's at peace", I thought, as we both boarded the south-bound train. He carried a small Harry Rosen bag, big enough for a tie and a pair of socks, maybe.

I got a seat and he ended up standing close by as we made our way home. A seat opened up next to where he was standing and this young man did something I haven't seen in a long time. He offered the empty seat to one woman (who refused) and then turned to another to make the same offer (she also refused). Then finally, he sat. Even his brown shoes were polished.

A few stops down, a very pregnant woman entered the train. Again he offered his seat, and again it was refused.

Don't give up young man. Your kind and generous offers were duly noted. Your Mama would be so proud!

(Your striped socks were very cool too!)

Thank you for warming my day.

Snippets

She was already what I would call “tall”, but with her pom-pom hat she must have been 6 ½ feet. (She walked fast!)

Young Russian couple; she leaned into him when the train lurched with the ease of someone who knows she will be taken care of.

University friends, reacquainted. She’s doing a practicum, talking about the easy day she had yesterday. My back is to them, but I could easily follow their conversation. Great to see you, let’s get together. She gets off. As we ride along, I was rotated, now I could see the scruffy face that went with his voice. From the top of his too-large parka, I catch a glimpse of the “S” of a worn out Superman t-shirt. His pants are frayed. Chances are the drink over the Holidays will never happen.

Beautiful in black from head to toe, how wonderful to add orange tights. To be so young.

She’s heading towards me, talking on her cell. She stops to speak. “What can I do about someone who almost ran me over?” she says. I hope she was talking to the Police.

Red light. “So I said to him, ask her what her dress looks like”. “What?” He says to me, “I don’t want to know”. “I know YOU don’t want to know”, she says, “but I want to know. I need to know HOW dressed up people are going to be. Do you think that’s weird?” “ Definitely not”, says her friend. And another Christmas party dress dilemma will be ironed out.

He's carrying a pink Holt Renfrew lunch bag in one hand and a garbage bag full of crumpled pastel coloured shirts in the other. The tassels on his stylish loafers lie frozen in an odd position.

The snow is starting to accumulate, and I am grateful that I have reached my destination.

A handsome, young man wearing a polka dot tie (which seems like an act of defiance to the gathering snowflakes) smiles and opens the door for me. Ah, now my work day can begin.

October 12 - downtown like a grown-up

So many people, so many lives
So many strangers, so many knives
(I made up that last part, let's hope it's not true
I don't ride the c-train,as often as you.)
So many degrees of wetness of hair
So many states of sleep and despair
So many i-pods, devices and phones
Each person sitting so straight and alone
So many books, so many go-cups too
because on a c-train, ceramic won't do.

I wonder where you're headed, what your day will bring
I wonder if you'll count, draw plans or sing
And the day will wear on, and the sunshine will wane
And we'll pick up our articles, and hop back on the train.