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Took the subway out to Fort Greene, Brooklyn last night for some Cambodian food. We got the F at Delancey and then switched to the C at Jay St. / Borough Hall. We just made it through the closing doors on the transfer, it was crowded, and I didn't get a chance to grab hold of anything. The train started forward with a lurch and I stumbled back a few steps.
Now I hadn't seen him of course. I tend to keep my eyes to myself. But let's just say I had a sense of the crowd. And in the moment after it was all too quickly clear: the large afro, the impeccable head to toe baby blue track suit, and most importantly, the orange plastic Nike bag holding the oversized sneaker box of urban consumer conquest.
Train moves forward. I stumble back and my very black shoe lands squarely on his pristine minutes old all white Air Jordans. Yes it left a smudge. He shot me a look that managed to both frighten me and simultaneously conveying that killing me would be too much effort, and might well further dirty his shoes. Needless to say I tried to support that latter feeling in the tone of my quick and heartfelt apology. "Sorry" I said, meaning "don't waste your time with the hapless hippie - HE'S NOT WORTH IT."
Jumped off at Lafayette, relieved. Had a great dinner at Cambodian Cuisine, 87 South Elliot Place, Fort Greene, Brooklyn. Just be careful on the subway.