The theme for this week’s WP writing challenge is “truth is stranger than fiction.” I can’t think of an experience that fits the bill better than this one. Some of you who’ve been around this blog for a while (thank you!), may be familiar with my now classic NYC Subway story. From The Subway Chronicles files, I give you : Crazy in Love. Enjoy!
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I believe it was Britney Spears who astutely noted, “Everything’s gotten a bit crazy.”
You don’t have to be a head-shaving, commando-going pop tart to feel that way. Some days just getting to the office is enough to make you wonder if you’ve lost a few ticks on the ol’ sanity yardstick.
If you ride the subway often enough, through no extra effort of your own, you’ll find yourself with the story – the one quintessential subway story you’ll relate to your co-workers the moment you get to the office, your friends to one-up them at the neighborhood bar and, someday, your grandkids. I haven’t shared my classic story with you. Until now. Why? Because, quite frankly, you wouldn’t have believed me. But by now, you’ve probably realized that, when it comes to the subway, truth is stranger than fiction.
I was a regular F train rider at the time, living in an affordable Brooklyn neighborhood (read so far from the city I was able to get a seat every morning) where the subway becomes an el. On this day, every time the train doors opened warm spring air rushed in, making me regret I hadn’t called in sick to work.
The train was getting pretty crowded so that by the time we reached the last stop before heading underground, it was standing room only. Just as the doors closed a guy and his girl wandered into the car. Let’s see…how to accurately describe them. Disheveled? No, not messy enough. Slothful? No, not lethargic enough. Insolent? Not rude enough. Well, suffice it to say it was clear that they were only up that early in the morning because they had been up that late.
They squeezed their way to the middle of the car to stand in front me and the elderly Asian lady to my right. Within moments, they began arguing. I’ll be honest – I could only catch about every third word, what with their slurring and all, so I’ve recreated the conversation as best as I can.
Guy: Why are you following me? I told you to stay home.
Girl: I can go wherever I want. It’s a free country.
Guy: You better get off at the next stop. I’m not fucking kidding.
Girl: Oh. My. God. I’m going to be sick.
Me, suddenly extremely nervous she was about to unload all the munchies she ate on my new sweater: Uhm…
Guy, to me: No, she’s not. She’s just saying that to get out of it.
Girl: I am. I…am…going…sick.
Guy, shaking his head as if he and I were on the same page: She’s just fucking around. Stop fucking around!
Girl, to the Asian lady: Can you…?
Quick as a bunny, the Asian lady grabbed her orange plastic bags and disappeared like magic. The girl sat down next to me and rested her head on the wall behind us, moaning.
Guy, looking at her with disgust and then turning to me: She is such a bitch. You want to see why?
Of course not, but I hadn’t yet learned the no-eye-contact rule. If you take one thing away from this story it should be that.
The guy bent forward so I could get a good look and turned his head slightly. What was that on his earlobe? I actually leaned a little closer. Wait…part of it was missing. Wait…were those teeth marks?
Guy, as if reading my mind: Yeah, she bit it clean off.
A wittier person would have had a snappy comeback, maybe some kind of Van Gogh reference, but I did the worst thing possible. I continued to stare at him.
Girl, still moaning: Why don’t you say why I bit it? Why don’t you say why?!
Guy, to me: That was like a week ago. But this morning. She’s crazy.
The guy turned his back toward me. I sneaked a look around, hoping someone would help a girl out, but Ashton Kutcher and the Punk’d crew were nowhere in sight. There were only my fellow commuters snickering either at me or the guy. Probably at me.
He lifted his shirt to reveal a small incision about an inch above his left kidney. It was still bleeding. The blood was dripping down the small of his back and pooling around his waistband. The wound was the size of a pocket knife.
Me: I think you need a Band-aid. (In New York we don’t bother to call the authorities until we’re talking about something roughly the size of a butcher knife.)
The guy swiped at the cut with his grimy hand and saw the blood, maybe for the first time.
Guy, gasping: Bitch!
Girl: I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry. I think I’m gonna be sick.
Guy: I mean, this’ll leave a scar.
Girl, summoning the courage to stand up: Baby? I’m sorry.
She leaned her head on his shoulder. The train pulled into a station while she was cooing and apologizing.
Guy: All right. Just don’t do it again.
Girl: Let’s go home.
With that they got off the train hand-in-hand. Ahh, love.
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For more stores from underground NYC, check out The Subway Chronicles: More Scenes from Life in New York.
As I always heard living there: “Only in New York!” (Which we know, of course, isn’t entirely true or fair;))
Jackie, you are so right that just one ride on a subway (the F train was my train for years too)–let alone waiting for one on the platform–provides a writer with pages of material. Since living here in Charlotte, I can’t say I’ve had quite as many “eventful” commutes
PS–Just wondering how you’re liking The Burgess Boys so far? I so loved Olive Kitteridge. (For obvious reasons, of course;))
Riding the subway is excellent fodder for writerly material. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve overheard a snippet of conversation that has worked its way into my writing somehow. I don’t think that ever happened sitting in bumper to bumper Atlanta traffic. 🙂
So far The Burgess Boys is wonderful! I think you’ll have double the reason to read this one. It takes place in Park Slope and in Maine!
This was one of my favorites in the collection. Favorite line: “All right. Just don’t do it again.” Ah, to be young and in love. 😉
I’m so happy to hear that, Julia! You just can’t make this stuff up. 🙂 (At least I’m not nearly that imaginative!)
I do remember this story, Ms. C… it’s so… so… I mean, how could I forget? I love it! Kinda reminds me of ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ – Gene Hackman’s character relates a tale of how a friend saved his life – caring him to a hospital after an assassin ‘Stuck me in the gut with a shiv.’ (turns out that friend who saved him was the same guy that had stabbed him)…
🙂
Yes! I remember that! Oh, I just loved The Royal Tenenbaums! It should be a cult classic like Arrested Development. Can’t wait for that movie. 🙂
I was in NYC a few weekends ago to visit my college friend. When we rode the subway, I made sure not to make eye contact. I have The Subway Chronicles to thank for that tidbit of information. 🙂
It’s all about getting the information to the people, that’s my philosophy! 🙂
And that’s why I love NY. You never know what will happen! I learned the no eye contact rule while living in Boston.
In other places, like where I’m from, direct eye contact is polite and friendly. Here, it’s an act of aggression.