You're Only Misleading The Sunshine I'm Needing
Is the war over yet? And why am I still wearing a scarf?
It may be April Fool's Day but this fucking weather is no joke. Last night? Flurries. And wind that blows hard enough to nearly knock over every pound of me. I was waiting to cross the street yesterday afternoon and found myself standing next to an older woman with a special high-poofy-'do that looked like she'd put her head into one of those cotton candy machines. "Oh my god!" she said to me, patting the front of her nest. "This wind! I need my comb!"
At the outdoor kiosk where I get my morning coffee, the guy standing behind me waiting to order literally leapt over my left shoulder to save the big plastic tip jar threatening to topple off of the counter and roll away in the wind. From where I stood, I could see that the jar was tied down to the ledge. I told him that it was attached, but that I enjoyed his initiative. "It's tied down? What kind of cruel joke is that?" he replied.
On my way home from the daily grind last night a man stepped onto the subway car holding the hand of a little girl vigorously throwing a tantrum. The red ribbons in her braided hair had unraveled in her despair and her face was soaked with tears. There were no seats available for us and she stood next to me stomping her mary janes, screaming non-stop at the top of her little lungs. The man she was with tried to shush her but she was having none of it.
She wailed for a full three stops until a female stranger finally leaned down and, smiling calmly, handed the little girl a stick of gum. Startled by the gesture, the girl went quiet. Sniffling, she took the gum, wiped the snot off her nose, leaned into the man's leg and let out an exhausted sigh of relief. I know exactly how she felt.
Anyone got a spare stick of Fruit Stripe?
