A Black Sweater

Mason’s group, “N” tune, was performing at the Music Under New York spot at the 59th street subway station when I arrived. They are not members of MUNY – they freelance. Mason wasn’t with them today, but they had a returning singer wearing a long coat – he used to sing with them a long time ago and now is making a comeback.

As I was playing Christmas carols on the musical saw I noticed a guy standing by the platform’s edge. He was standing there for 45 minutes, missing one train after the other. I thought maybe he was lost…maybe he thought the #4 train stops here (it only does that late at night). At 12:45 I saw him shaking hands with two guys. After they left he went away, but returned shortly and finally boarded the #6 train.

Arnold, the guy who complained to me yesterday at the Union Square subway station that I don’t say ‘hi’ to him, walked by. I did recognize him this time and said ‘hi’ 🙂 It turned out he is a messenger for ACS (Administration for Children’s Services) – “an organization that takes kids away from their parents”, as Arnold explained to me.

A while later Arnold returned with a bag of clothes. He said somebody gave it to him, and he in turn, gave some clothes from it to two homeless guys upstairs. He is keeping a coat for himself and he gave me a black turtle-neck sweater. I thought that was really nice of him.

On my way home I gave the sweater to the homeless guy who walks with a cane who always hangs around the park.