a random act of kindness

[batyatoon]

So on my subway ride home from work on Friday, I was feeling a little down.

There was a teenage girl seated across from me for most of the way, wearing headphones and writing in what I took to be a journal. Wearing a sweatshirt saying SENIORS and CLASS OF 2013 on it; there was a slogan, 2 + 0 + 1 = 3 and the only class that adds up. I remember noticing her, wondering idly what she was writing, looking away again. Thinking distantly She's pretty. I hope she knows it.

And either I looked a lot more down than I was feeling, or I was feeling a lot more down than I realized. Because as we were both getting up to leave the train, she said "Excuse me" and handed me a folded page from her notebook, and then went on out before I could ask anything further.

On the page was a drawing of a smiling face with big bright eyes, and the words:

have a smile
you look like you need one

you're awesome,
keep on going.

And I very nearly cried.

Thank you, lovely unknown senior of '13. You're awesome too.

Comments

[in_the_blue]

That's the best story. It's full of love.

People think New York is a cold-hearted city, but they couldn't be more wrong. ♥

[batyatoon]

So true.

[technoshaman]

It can't possibly be cold-hearted, Batya, it's got you in it! *virtual hugs*

[crazyfurries]

NYC is filled with warm awesome people, I oughta know, after surviving a hurricane there.

*ALL THE HUGS FOR NYC*

[wakeupnew]

God, that's so lovely.

[silveraspen]

Yay. Thank you for sharing!

[ladysingsthe]

ah that's so great :DDDD

[filkerdave]

That's awesome.

I love New York.

[crystalpyramid]

I love teenagers sometimes. Thanks for sharing this!

[thnidu]

That is great.

It brings to mind a similar incident for me, when I was taking Amtrak up to Rene's funeral. (Our plots are in Mass., where we lived for 20yrs.) Of course I was massively roiling inside, and suddenly burst out with a loud string of ranting – not at anyone, just... I don't remember. Of course people were upset, though no one said anything. A few moments later I recovered enough to apologize to the car and explain in a few words the reason for my outburst.

At a station sometime later along the line, a young woman paused by my seat on her way to the door and handed me a folded paper. I opened it and read a warm and comforting message, signed "A stranger". I have kept that paper.

[genarti]

Oh, wow. What a lovely thing, and what a lovely person.

[eldabe]

Oh, that's just lovely.