____
____
____
ON THE TRAIN TODAY, THE MAN SHAKING & SMELLING IN TOO MUCH OF MY SPACE, REACHED OUT WITH A PALM FULL OF DIMES AND QUARTERS, AND TOLD US THAT HE HAD NOT EATEN FOR THREE WHOLE DAYS AND NOW SIMPLY WANTED ENOUGH FOR A MILKSHAKE FOR DINNER.
_____
THAT WAS ALL HE WAS ASKING FOR, A MILKSHAKE.
_____
I PUT MY HEAD DOWN, TRYING TO KEEP THE BAG FULL OF FOOD MY PARENTS HAD SENT ME EARLIER THIS WEEK AS A PRESENT HIDDEN UNDER THE SEAT.
_____
NO ONE ELSE GAVE HIM A SECOND GLANCE, AND AS I LEFT AT MY STOP, SO DID HE, MOVING OVER TO THE NEXT CAR TO TRY HIS LOOK THERE.
_____
I SHOULD NOT TALK, NOT EATING DINNER THIS EVENING, OR EVEN PLANNING ON DOING SO.
_____
I ATE A FEW SPOONFULS OF PEANUT BUTTER AND CALLED IT GOOD.
_____
THIS IS WHAT THEY MEAN BY FREEDOM, I SUPPOSE.
____
____
_____
