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Prophet of the Q Train
by Chris Grygo
with contributions from Tom Shields
It was
decompression time. Apparently
the Beastie Boys lyric, “No Sleep ‘til Brooklyn!” was prophetic,
because most of the train car was finally dosing by the time we pulled
into the DeKalb Avenue stop. A quick scan found snacking children
leaning against their parents, ad scanning faces still wearing the
day’s labor, and a group of synchronized bobbers whose sleeping heads
swayed together to the beat of the careening train. It was
standard New York fare; quiet, anonymous, and un-phased.
Then a man emerged from the crowd entering the car and turned the scene
on its head.
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. You all are looking good to
me, and some of you are looking better…” he said, pointing at a few
bobbers who awoke smiling at him. “We’re running a special
today. Buy one essential oil and get a second one free!”
Immediately he pivoted and continued, “I’m here to make you all smell
better. Now some of you all smell…” there was a pregnant pause
“…good. Smelling good is good, but smelling better is
better!” It was hard to argue with his logic. It was also
hard to ignore his impact. The train was filled with smiles,
giggles and more than a few buyers. In an instant, one man’s
simple statement transformed us all. People looked around nodding
at each other as if to say, “Man, I needed that boost of energy!”
It was standard New York fare; lively, communal, and engaged.
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