Author Information
DELIGHFUL STRANGER
Folder:
CANNIBALIZED HAIBUN
I sat on the train next to a lovely woman from Thailand. She spoke in broken English and laughed at most of my mediocre jokes. I wondered how much she understood and to what extent she was merely being kind.
The train rolled along. Every stop she asked me when we would arrive in New York City. I assured her the crew would make sure she got off the train. Penn Station is the last stop on the line.
It was a refreshing conversation. She was a student at NYU studying medicine—and yet still she gently tolerated my bullshit. I felt certain she would make a fine doctor someday. For a few moments I felt hopeful about the destiny of humankind.
Delightful stranger
flitting into consciousness
a sweet bird singing
