I got on the subway at Halsey and sat down. Unlike most riders I was headphoneless. Usually I like to tune into the sounds around me, even if they are annoying. Across from me a woman in a clean, work uniform. There was a bag on her lap. She looked over to me and started a conversation.
"I like your coat," she said.
I looked down at the brown furry oversized, blanket coat and smiled. "Thank you."
"I have something just like it. It's a bit shorter. My husband tells me I look like Scooby Doo when I wear mine. So I don't wear it much."
"Don't listen to him," I said. "I bet it looks good on you."
"Yours is nicer," she said. "Mine's too short. Makes me look fat. I think it's better long."
"I wasn't sold on it for a while. I bought it and then everyone had them. My boyfriend took pictures of every woman he saw on the street wearing it. So I put it my closet for two seasons."
"Shiiiit," she said. "Men."
"And see this," I said showing her the button. "It slips through. Every time I button it, it slips out. The hole is too big. It's really annoying."
"Sew it," she said.
"I need to. I just haven't gotten around to it," I said. "I shouldn't have to."
"I know what you mean," she said. "Where you off to? You going to work?"
"Nah. I'm heading into Williamsburg to drop off some film. You?"
"I'm heading into work."
'It's late," I said. It was already past 6p. "What do you do?"
"I clean an office building on the East Side. Near Turtle Bay. Ooof last night I was so tired I fell asleep on one of them conference tables. My coworker had to come and wake me up at 6 in the morning."
"Is that when you work until? 6 a.m.?"
"Yes ma'am," she said. "I told my husband he better come and pick me up. I don't like taking the subway home. It's too early. The freaks are still out."
"I don't blame you. I'm sure he will come pick you up," I said assuredly.
"Yeah only if I pay him," she said with her lips pursed. She looked down at her finger nails.
"Pay him? Pay him what?"
"Forty dollars. He said that's what I would be payin' an Uber so I might as well pay him for his time. I guess he's right."
"I guess," I said. "I don't think he should be charging you."
"I know. I would divorce him, but we have too many kids."
"How many kids do you have?" I asked.
"8," she said.
"Oh my God." I was not expecting that. "That's a lot of kids."
"Tell me about it," she said. One side of her mouth was pulled in as she shrugged her shoulders. "They just kept coming. Now it don't make no sense to leave. Would be more hassle than it's worth."
"That makes sense," I said.
"Sometimes I ask my son to come get me, but then I need to get him pizza or something. Maybe I'll do that. Tell him to come get me and I'll give him money for food."
"They should just do it because you're their mom. That's what I would do," I said.
"It's okay. I understand it. They're helping me out so I can help them out in return. I just hope I don't fall asleep again tonight. It's hard working the night shift."
"I believe it," I said.
The subway voice said "Bedford Avenue," before the train entered the station.
"This is my stop," I said. "It was really nice talking to you. I hope you have a great shift."
"You too, mama. Take care of yourself and keep rockin' that coat. I'm gonna take mine back out."
"Scooby Doo Crew."
She clapped her hands together and laughed. "That's right. I shouldn't give a fuck what my husband has to say. I should tell him to buy me a new one."
"He has enough money from Ubering," I told her.
"That's right. He does."
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