Homeward Bound

Darkness fills the sky.  The evening customers start to come in one by one. You see them at the same time every night. You greet with a nod, maybe a hello and before you know it the transaction is over with. You resume to your cleaning tasks and this repeats until it's time to lock up. Once you turn the lights off and lock up from outside, You'll want to light up a ceremonious cigarette.  You made it another day. The rides home at night are the longest.  The best part about them are the possibilities of finding a seat are much greater. While waiting for the train to arrive, you'll stare unto the tracks. The tracks are filled with litter and rodents. Occasionally you'll see a rat running up the platform and just pray that it  turns around before running past you. Eventually the rodent reaches you. It stops in it's tracks of course and stares at you for only a moment before continuing it's trek across the platform.  You focus your attention once more on the tracks and turn up the volume on your ipod. Before the volume is all the way up, you'll hear the shrieks of women from down the platform. This makes you grin. The train comes. The doors close after you have chosen a seat. You pick the seat that avoids the loud couple at one end and the homeless man at the other end. Instead you sit opposite a Latino family and there three sleeping kids. Glances are exchanged with the parents from time to time. You just avoid looking at the homeless man who has started a conversation with himself about government secrets.  The homeless man gets off at forty second street. The Latino family is long gone. The loud couple  and you remain. You don't know what either of them look like even though you'd like to. You arrive at fourteenth street and get off. So does the couple. You walk past them to avoid having them think you are following them. You get to the L platform and look for a good place to stand. You are surrounded by hipsters and gangsters. Two groups you do not fit in with. While waiting for the train a pretty girl stands next to you. You glance over at her and she does the same. A few moments pass and she walks away. You watch as she does. She ends up on the other side of the platform. The train comes. This time there are no available seats. It is after midnight and you are standing in a crowded train.  It always feels weird when you stand over someone that is sitting right in front of you. You think "I hope my fly isn't unzipped." It is then and only then you become more aware of strangers glancing at your crotch. It actually works in reverse too, when your in the seat and someone has their crotch in your face. No matter what, it is always an uncomfortable situation. Before you know it your leaving the train and walking home. You play it cool. You toughen up, but not too much. Just enough for people to not want to start any problems with you. It works. You make it to your block. Instantly you start looking for your keys. Not because your scared of getting mugged, but to keep the rodents away from you. They stay away from noise. You finally make it to your door and give your keys one last shake before you go to open it. Your trash can rattles and shakes. You stand back and watch as a rodent the size of your forearm leaps out and runs under a parked car. Your shaken up for a moment, but proceed to open your door.  Your home now. You enter your bedroom and turn on the light. You drop your bag and turn on your computer.  The fan goes on last. You take off your shoes and turn on your  music. As you are doing all of this you are looking around. Your home.