I got on the commuter rail with my suitcase, backpack, and travel bag. I found a three-seater and spread out all my things. Two stops later I heard, “Excuse me.” A man wanted to sit on my aisle seat. “Can’t you sit somewhere else?” I gestured toward empty seats. He grabbed my travel bag, plopped it on my lap, shoved my suitcase over, sat down. The cretin. The jerk. Later, as the train reached South Station, he leaned toward me. “Can I help with that suitcase?” “Uh, sure.” He rolled it through the station and out the door. The gentleman.
Lisa Braxton is the author of the novel, The Talking Drum. She is also a Kimbilio Fellow for writers of the African diaspora. lisabraxton.com/ Twitter: @Lisareidbraxton Instagram: @lisabraxton6186