The Literacy Review - Gallatin School of Individualized Study - New ...

At a New York City Subway Station
Harry Rodriguez
76 Laughing
I looked at the woman on the subway platform. She was on her cell phone, gossiping
to her friend about last night. She was standing next to the stacked-up garbage bags
waiting to be picked up. As I looked at her talking loudly, I looked down next to her feet
and saw things moving around. I yelled across to her, “Look down!” and she just looked
at me with an I’m not paying you no mind attitude.
Then she must have felt something crawling over her boot. She looked down, and
she started screaming. Nobody even paid attention to her. They just kept on waiting
for the train. She ran to the information booth, but nobody was there. As she turned
around, the train came in. She ran to the conductor and told him about the rats.
He paid her no mind. “Nothing I can do. If you’re taking the train, get on. Stand clear
of the closing doors. Next stop is…”
Welcome to the 145th Street stop.
Harry Rodriguez has lived in New York City all his life. He
has a special interest in holidays. He writes, “I am very
compassionate about holidays. I notice how people react
during the holidays, when they don’t get what they need.”
He studies at the Fortune Society, where his teachers are
Marti Dressler, Sharon Rush, and John Kefalas.