I saw Wen today for the first time in about 2 years. She was in NY for a friend's wedding. It was so nice to spend time with her again, and we did the whole 34th and 7th shopping thing together. That was where this picture was taken (see Macy's in the background?) Then we swapped Scary Subway Stories, and (unfortunately) mine won hands down. Here goes.

So I was on my way to meet Wen, minding my own business on the 2 train from Sterling Street. To my right, a man who appeared to be homeless was talking to anyone who would listen. Ignore and avert eyes.

To my left, another man (also appearing to be homeless) was lying across 7 or 8 seats in a blissful slumber. The air around him smelled vaguely of alcohol. Ignore.

I was absorbed in reading my current novel Birds Without Wings by Louis DeBernieres when I noticed out of the corner of my eye some commotion involving the inebriated homeless man on the seats. I glance up to a 3rd man trying to wake up the sleeping man because he wanted to sit down. Apparently, he thought it was a real chutzpah that the inebriated gentleman was taking up 7 seats and had no qualms about telling him that. Fine. Our inebriated friend sits up, rubs his eyes and does a little stretching. Well and good if one was in one's own bedroom. This, however, was the 2 service to Manhattan. Sigh.

I am about to go back to my book when I see our inebriated friend struggling to get up. Oh no, now what. My eyes darted around nervously for the quickest escape. I wasn't sitting too far away from him and really just wanted to stay out his way in case his legs decided not to hold him up any more. I held my breath as he swayed in my direction, ready to leap out of my seat. But alas, he swayed towards the car door (you know, the door you open in order to go into the next carriage) and struggled to open it. Oh no, now what. To my utter amazement, our inebriated friend calmly opens the car door, closes it behind him, turns to his right, and proceeds to make right there and then! Yes ! In between the carriages! On a moving train!! Avert eyes and ignore.

Sigh. Now you know why my Scary Subway Story won Wen's hands down. So that was my day in Manhattan. Lots of ignoring and aversion of eyes. Welcome to NY, folks.

PS: If I had the guts to, I would have actually taken a pic of our inebriated friend sleeping and/or making on the subway, but I would have genuinely feared for my life had I whipped out my Canon Ixus to capture that (truly) Kodak moment. Maybe next time.....