Life On The Train

Number 6 Local  1 pm

  I’ve taken the black crepe off the windows along with my widow’s weeds trying to accept the things I can’t change.

  Or as my late friend Jackie would say, making lemonade out of lemons. Alas, we have an old, new president.

  I’m en route home from the main Library on 42nd Street. I went to their gift shop to buy a Christmas ornament they sell; a little stack of books.

   It’s too early for Christmas, I’m told by a bored salesgirl.

  Oh come on, really? I blame this on Target where it’s already in full swing.

  I did get to see the lions, Patience and Fortitude, and buy another copy of The Library Lion, my all time favorite kid’s book.

 My favorite illustration is when he’s dusting the encyclopedias.

 The car is fuller than you’d expect since it’s only early afternoon.

There’s a group of school kids that look as if they were on a day trip. None are smiling. Since I’m standing near who looks like their teacher, a pretty light-haired woman wearing a beige car-coat ask, why the long faces? She scans the group before answering. “They can’t use their phones. One of my strict rules.”

 “Where were they, Liberty Island?”

 “No, Ellis Island. I’ve been teaching on why people want to come to our country.” 

 How impressive, I think, considering all the present controversy. She must be reading my mind when she adds, “It’s important to know the history of our ancestors who came for a better life, and why it’s still happening. They hear so much negativity that they have, or had, no idea why Ellis Island even existed.” 

 I smile, seeing what a great teacher she is and how much she cares.

 I then ask one kid nearest to me what he thought about Ellis Island. “It was okay,” he says, scratching under his arm, “but it’s, ya know…they should paint it.”

 “Is that all you can say?” his teacher asks, suppressing a smile. “Didn’t anything else impress you Allen?”

  Allen thinks for minute.

 “The ferry ride. They had pretzels.”

  I’m at my stop. I’d so love to ask Allen more questions along with his fellow classmates. If I wasn’t in a hurry, would do just that.

  It would be well worth it. There’s no one more honest, or funnier for that matter, than a kid.

Next Time.

  SB