Appearances

As I was walking down 23rd street today, a woman stopped me and started speaking to me in a foreign language. When she paused, I told her I didn't understand what she was saying.

She looked puzzled, then pointed to her head. One of the words she said sounded like "Rooskie."

At this moment, I realised that she thought I was Russian because I was wearing my big fur hat.

She said in English "F train" and "Coney Island." I walked her to the F stop entrance that was a few feet away, but poorly marked.

It is intriguing to learn how I am perceived by others and the basis of assumptions that are made. This is the first time I have been mistaken for a Russian.

Now that I think about it, the hat was made by a Russian furrier on West 28th and 7th Avenue. Perhaps he left a Russian imprint on me.

Galloping Consumption

As I walked down the 2nd Avenue platform of the F train, I noticed a man moving in my direction who was asking people for change. He looked down on his luck.

He moved near me. I didn't have any change and didn't want to encourage him by making eye contact.

I got the urge to cough and did so.

"You better check out that cough." he said as he sped past me "It could be T.B."