NYC Subway Snapshots: Bibles for Dollars?

Warm, stagnant air clung to my skin as bodies accumulated around me. Equally warm. Equally anxious.

I opened up Google Maps.

“The A train is delayed 44 minutes.”

Are you kidding me?! The New York City MTA system is horrendous on the weekends. How can one of the richest cities in the world have such garbage mass transit? 

Then, a Labor Day miracle happened. A distant honk echoed through the platform and I saw a glimmer of light hurdling towards me. The wet air was splattered all around as the train lurched to stop.

The car had AC. And I was able to snag a seat. JACKPOT!

10 minutes into the journey, a voice inched through the car. “Ladies and gentlemen, I am homeless, and I just want to eat tonight. I am a man of God, and can offer these bible passages in exchange for a few dollars.”

 The voice was coming from a small, older man. Maybe he was in his 60s, or perhaps 40s? Life on the streets in NYC can have quite the aging effect. He was wearing faded blue jeans that were far too large and a button up shirt. A plastic bag full of pamphlets dangled from his arm.

I heard a voice say, “Oh honey, I’m going to give you money just to stop what you’re doing.”

I looked up from my crossword to see a tall person with a broad frame and an impressively muscular back. They was wearing an athletic crop top, low rise skinny jeans, a purple head scarf, and big sunglasses. Perfectly manicured nails. Comfy sneakers. Designer bag. Biceps the size of my head.

“We don’t do this sweetie. We give out God’s word for free. Now I’m going to give you money to buy food, but you need to stop this.” 

He indistinctly murmured with a smile as the cash was exchanged and proceeded on his way.

Perhaps he took the words to heart, or perhaps he continued right along to the next car, forever hustling on. I’ll never know.