Bad shot, but this is a homeless man about to take a shower on the subway platform. He somehow figured out that there’s a water pipe behind a panel and floods the platform while he cleans up. Seen this a few times- at least this time I didn’t have to see him in his underwear…

On my way home this morning I stood on the platform waiting for the R train reading my nook and a guy walks by and bumps into it, nearly knocking it out of my hand. I stopped and looked up at him to see if he’d do the right thing.

“Sorry,” he says, and laughs as he continues to walk by. Not the best response, but I’d take it. Till his lady friend comes waking from behind him and sasses “Oh please! He shouldn’t be doing that anyway.”

I laugh, incredulous. “Excuse me? I shouldn’t be reading my book?” They looked back and mimicked my “excuse me” and laughed again and I immediately saw red.

“Keep walking,” I bellowed, my dormant Bronx accent rearing its head.They looked back with wide eyes and half-paused, perhaps surprised that this guy in a suit wasn’t backing down for them and I opened my mouth again… and immediately shut it. They walked a little way down to the end of the platform and when the train came I moved farther away to be sure I wasn’t on the same car as them.

In the past I never sought out fights but I wouldn’t run from any that came my way. Fatherhood has changed that. I constantly find myself stopping from doing things I would have done without a second thought, even if it’s as simple as cross a street against the light. Rough or loud people on the subway used to make me more wary but would never prevent me from sitting where I was going to sit, but now I’ll remove myself from the situation so I don’t have one.

It’s funny how at 29 I finally feel like I’m growing up.

But anyway, that asshole’s comment made me think of the late Mr. Hicks’ encounter with a waffle waitress.