Preview: 7:22am

It was a particularly ordinary Tuesday morning, the din of traffic no more troublesome to my ears than most every other morning. Waiting for the crosstown bus I could feel the heat perspiring from the sidewalks and buildings. It was going to be one hellish day.

The Yankees were opening a three game series against the White Sox, and since I had the Tuesday game plan, tonight I’d get outta’ work a few minutes early, go pick up Sam, and we’d enjoy our night at the Stadium. Being divorced sucked, but at least my boy and I got to spend some quality time together.

The bus ride was always part of the morning challenge. People rushing to work, whether by subway, bus, taxi, or the really crazy ones who drove their own vehicle, all were part of some master logjam of the human trafficking puzzle. Sometimes there’d even be an altercation. I myself practiced forbearance recently though I’ll admit it isn’t always easy. I recall just a month ago I was sitting and there was standing room only. An elderly man got on the bus and as he looked around I caught his eye and nodded toward my seat, silently offering to give it up to him. He smiled and started to walk toward me, so I got up and as soon as my ass was off the plastic some young punk shot into the opening. When I told him that I was getting up to give the older man my seat he said “What older man?” then told me to fuck off. I’m not one to start a bar fight or a bus fight for that matter, but this asshole had quickly pushed my buttons.

It was the strong grip on my wrist by the older man that saved the young punk from a public ass kicking, and possibly saved me from getting arrested.

“It is your kindness that will be remembered. Please, let it go,” and he smiled once again, then shuffled toward another free spot that opened up as the bus reached a stop.

The bus ride wasn’t memorable, thankfully. In fact the forty to fifty minutes per day that I spend commuting by bus, walking and the elevator ride up to the office usually gives me time to zone out and indulge in some daydreaming.