brooklyn B38
Waking up this morning I realized that I had forgot to set my alarm, and once again I was going to be late to work. I've gotten accustomed to getting ready in a hurry, and have the whole process down to about 20 minutes which includes a shower and nice clothes. As I stepped out my front door I saw the bus on the corner which gets me to the subway about 10 minutes quicker than walking and I sprinted over just barely making it before the doors closed. I grabbed my metro-card out of my pocket, shoved it in the slot as I greeted the driver with a good-morning and a smile as I usually do. Saying good-morning to a bus driver in Brooklyn has varied responses from no response at all, as if the driver doesn't even hear me, to a half-hearted almost under the breath "mornin'". This morning the driver replied with a confident "good-morning", and I even think I caught a smile. Just as the driver was replying to my greeting the metro-card reader made the dreaded low-tone embarassing beep that it makes when you don't have enough money on your card. With almost mechanical reaction I grabbed the card, said "shit" and started to get out of the way of other passengers. As I started to jump off the bus the driver yelled to me, "hold on a second, where you going...the subway?", I nodded as that was exactly where I was going, "just stay on the bus then." and I thanked him and walked to the back of the bus. It's not often that someone acts like this in New York, and I was taken completely off-guard. I wanted to show him my appreciation not just for the ride down to the train, but because I knew that he had already made my day. As I got off the bus I walked right in front of it as I was crossing the street, looked right at him through the windshield, gave him the warmest smile I could and waved. He waved back and smiled too.
Now doesn't that just warm your fuckin heart?
Posted by christopher andersson on December 16, 2005 11:19 AM Permalink