Tube Encounter
On the tube on the way to South Kensington with a small group, one of the stops brought on a guy who had this large, long, odd-shaped bag. I look down at the bag, perplexed and then I look up at the guy and ask with a playful smile in my eyes “Body?” The guy smirks and with a nod of his head and a matter of fact jutting of his lips he replies, “Yeah, Body, all sliced in here.” I furrow my brow and I shake my head in acceptance as if we were talking about nothing more than the weather and I affirmed with, “Right, I thought so.” Three seconds go by and he mentions loosely, “Yeah that’s how I keep my relatives around with me.” I nod again and added “They’re a lot easier to handle that way.” he reflects with, ” a lot less noise as well.”
We scoff at our on-going superb repertoire of conversation and I question what is actually in the bag. I find out that they’re skis and that he is on his way to Colorado. He tells me his name is Nick and that his girlfriend is not going with him because she is not as interested in skiing as he is. We talked for probably 5-10 minutes. He had had pale blue eys, straight dirty blonde hair that wisped over his eyes and over his square framed glasses. He was a rather tall gentleman, slender with a grey and lime green hoodie on and jeans.
We were quiet for about thirty seconds before he mentioned that people did not usually talk on the tube and I knew this because I had been in London for about 3 or 4 weeks by now. I had to comment though, I had to say something about his bag. I told him about a restaurant on top of one the mountains in Colorado that served an 8 course meal that would change your life according to my mother. He shared a restaurant that was right around the corner of the tube station that he praised on it’s cheese and wine platters. It was called “Le Cave” and I took a mental note to go there that afternoon. As I left the train I bid him farewell by calling over my shoulder, ” I hope you have a great time and don’t break a leg!” he tossed out goodbye as well, he called ” You too Sarah and never!”
This kind of encounter, this kind of connection is what I love about people. It doesn’t have to be romantic, or deep, it can be the smallest of converstions but to me those are the most memorable. I would rather talk to someone for 5 minutes than sit on the tube and pretend like no one but myself and my own little universe exists. London has allowed me to have small moments like this one with dozens of people. I have learned so much about others as well as myslef because of this. London in all the generalizations has changed me, maybe I’m not a completely different person but I am a little bit different. I have a little more perspective, and that’s all I ask for. Thank you London, we shall meet again some day.
Sarah Katherine Yost
