Reading Response 09/17

Faster than the speed of light

                Saturday 2:15, I had just finished taking the six train downtown to 42^nd street station. I was wearing Jeans, white Converse, and white shirt with a giraffe logo, a blue cardigan over the shirt and had my hair up in a bun. It was particularly a cold day, I thought to myself “so much complaining during summer about wanting hoodie weather and now that’s cold I miss the warm climate”.  Heading down 42^nd street felt like an eternity due to the fact that I live on Westchester square and is 25 stops in between these two stations.   Train is ordinary to me; I sat next to a mother from Mexican ethnicity and her five children. They ages seemed to be close apart; they were all little with good hair and were giving their mother a hard time because they refused to sit down. She looked agitated and couldn’t handle the five boys.  She got off on Elder Avenue.  Everyone on the train minds their own business except for the guy that was sitting to my left. As I was reading a book called “the Secret The Power” by Rhonda Byrne I felt his eyes burning right through the pages.  It didn’t bother me because the context of the book is so incredible that sharing it would be the right thing to do, so I allowed him to read along with me.  Before getting off the train he questioned me about the book, he asked “where did you get that book” in attempt to begin a conversation with me. I responded, “It was a gift” than he proceeded to tell me how much he had heard about it and that he always wanted to read the book. I gave him some of the major points that the book addressed and strongly recommended to buy it.   As I kept heading downtown, the same man that begs all the time appeared a white male around his 50s.  This time he didn’t have his kids with him. He always has the same story of “could you please, please, please, please help feed my children, a penny or a quarter is not too much to ask to save a starving child”. I had already memorized his words from all the times I’ve seen him on the train. I rushed to put my headphones on as I buried my head in my book like an ostrich in order to block his misery out.  I thought to myself “get a job”.

                I had finally reached 42^nd street and mentally prepared myself to be able to get out of the train. Not only was it crowded, once the doors open is like a stampede of animals all running together to get into the train disregard of who they have to run over.  Shoving and pushing I managed to get out of the train.  It was 3:30 pm by then. As I reached the surface I headed towards First Avenue and 47^th street to Dag’s Patio Cafe. They sell the best Chicken Pita and Apple wood cheddar burgers.  As I walked I observed a man approximately 400 pounds eating a burger, he was wearing all black attire which blended with the color of his skin. He seemed jolly and walked with his mouth open savoring the burger like it was his favorite food. Couples are holding hands, happily kissing in the corner of 43^rd street. There’s a myriad of people walking, well dressed suits, everyone seems to be in a rush and walk passed me at the speed of light, I find myself turning into a pebble being dragged down with the current of the river. This view reminded me of the Walking Dead, Majority of people wearing dull colors and heading towards the same direction.  Crossing the street is difficult; individuals look like robots or cyber creatures walking blindly because they too busy looking at their phones. I encounter this man approximately 6 foot high crossing the street, in an instant our words collided and we engaged in perfectly coordinated dance. As I would go right, he would go right causing our bodies to bump one another, as I would go left he would also go left. We had no choice but to pause, laugh and figure a way to escape from one another, so I said “you go right I go left”.  Perfect.   I kept walking down the avenue, a pigeon starred at a piece of bread on the floor, hesitant to get it due to the flow of people below. Stores filled both streets, from fast food restaurants to clothing stores and other businesses.  Individuals run amok attempting to catch yellow taxis.  Such a beautiful chaos.  I finally reached my destination, located in the center of the park; they were dogs everywhere, from German shepherd to pit-bull to golden retrievers. I saw a pit-bull run into a big water fountain, this filled me with joy.  Construction workers sat together with their luminescent attire enjoying a cup of coffee.  Two teenage lovers were feeling up on each other sitting on the benches, they nearly swallow one another. The smell of grilled chicken filled my nostrils, giving me a satisfying sensation. I proceeded to order a chicken pita with a large coke and French fries. I was able to escape the madness of 42^nd street and finally sit down in peace to enjoy a meal with one of my friends.