So, it's really early and packed and people are grumpy and it smells like oatmeal-sneaker, and there is a girl in a corner who cannot be older than 15 though I would guess 12 with a little baby in a stroller, the kind wrapped in that sketchy plastic that is rain proof but also, can your child breathe? And in the other corner this boy steps on, and he is the meanest looking boy on the train; blood-shot eyes and an over-sized sweatshirt, his Brooklyn hat is tipped upwards and he is scowling at everyone.
Then this little girl's baby starts crying - she must be super hot under all her blankets and plastic sheeting, but the girl cannot get to her because there are too many people smushed on all sides of her and the stroller (its a sponge bob stroller, it's sort of awesome). The baby keeps crying and it seems like it will just have to cry for a bit, but then the meanest boy on the F train has pushed across from his corner, rolled up the plastic sheet, and is comforting the baby. Then he hands the slightly soothed baby to the girl, who is totally ecstatic by this generosity; her eyes are all shiny and it looks like she might laugh-cry. She comforts the baby who soon stops crying, and then the meanest who is actually the sweetest boy on the F train stands next to her and holds the stroller so she can hold the baby, giving her comfort for the rest of the train ride. And the little girl can't stop smiling ....
There are infinite possibilities for kindness, and they somehow seem more beautiful in the city
-santiago from the train
