I don’t mean to play favorites. Honestly, I use and appreciate all the subway lines the city offers, but I travel to and from work, and to my children’s home on the #1. So I know it pretty well.
Since I am a senior citizen (86 years old) I always ride at a discount which I appreciate, being frugal (a nicer word than cheap). My slow gait is due to advanced age. Once aboard I invariably get a seat. I query seatmates frequently about the stops till mine occurs, by which time we are often good friends. I wish all well and depart. Mission easily accomplished.
When I travel with my small suitcase (on wheels) if I pause and l appear distressed for a second at the subway’s street entry, Sir Galahad (well disguised) invariably appears to escort me and carry my bag downstairs. The reverse occurs at the end of my journey. Then I am even more appreciative and noisily effusive. Upstairs would be particularly hard to accomplish solo.
I babysit sometimes and I feel perfectly safe even if I leave for home after midnight. The Broadway Line is busy and well traveled. I never want for company even very late at night.
About three weeks ago I left for home unusually late. I boarded a long-awaited local on 103rd Street and was, oddly, the only passenger in that car! Never had that happened before.
Then – a man hurriedly just made it through the closing doors; his collar was raised, his features partially obscured. I was truly afraid. He sat down at the far end of the car, his face still buried in his scarf and collar.
Abruptly, he rose and purposefully and deliberately walked towards me!
I was terrified, seized by lurid imaginings, the worst. What if no one else boarded at the next stop, 96th Street? What if?
Boldly, he sat down right BESIDE me.
“Professor Klass,” he said affably, “I was in your Creative Writing Class at the college thirteen years ago. You were very helpful and encouraging. I didn’t become a writer. I’m an architect. But I remember the class vividly and happily. I still have all my manuscripts with your comments. Who knows? Some day I might build on paper, too!”
I nearly kissed him!
And speaking of writing, my daughter Judy has a new young adult novel, an e-book, just published; you should all check out the book trailer for it!
blogging grandma 
Sheila – it must be nearly Halloween, because your story had my heart-pounding. But you’re here to tell it, so I figured it had to have a happy ending – and a very sweet one at that!
Thanks for the youtube link to the trailer for Judy’s book. I read the hard copy (paperback) last February on a family vacation – it was heart-pounding, too. I didn’t know there was such a thing as a “book trailer.” But why not? Very cool!