Posts tagged subway

Ann walked down the stairs and onto the platform just in time to see her train depart. Another would arrive in 9 minutes, the sign read. She looked at her watch, and then away, briefly, to some people on the opposite side, also waiting, and having an obviously more enjoyable time of it than she was.

She checked her watch again… 8 minutes, 45 seconds. The time remaining would slow unbearably without a book or phone conversation to speed it along.

She saw a woman approaching, and looked down, instinctively. She avoided encounters with strangers, no matter how friendly they appeared to be. She kept her eyes from contact and wondered what the woman could possibly want from her.

“Hello, dear,” said the woman, stopping to Ann’s right, about three feet away. She wore a grey coat and skirt of combed wool, and a white blouse with tiny embroidered flowers in green and pink. She had thick stockings, and a pair of brown therapeutic shoes Ann could imagine on her grandmother’s feet. Her long hair was salted and peppered by the years, and partially pulled back. Her face wore the weathering of time and trial; yet, it was bright, and related a deep, fundamental happiness that Ann lacked. Her name was Joy.

“I’m terribly sorry to bother you. I was down here looking for a new friend, and I thought you seemed nice. I wondered if you might want to go to the market with me.”

Ann had already lifted her eyes, and immediately, she recognized the strange nature of this woman, of her request, and of the sincere, unassuming smile she wore. Ann wanted to say no, but couldn’t get the words out of her mouth. She also wanted to give Joy a chance, for some reason her customary standoffishness could not contemplate. Anyway, what was the harm of grocery shopping in public with an elderly woman on the way home from work?

Ann turned toward Joy and offered her hand. “I’m Ann,” she said. “I’d be delighted.”