Brian Abbott’s Blog

Yesterday as I was heading for work I encountered one of the worst fates of a straphanger—the problem child. This little child was in its stroller and content much of the time, but every now and then would engage in fits of screaming. Thankfully, I had my iPod on which dulled the ear-piercing howls.

Soon, the child began pushing things onto its mother, rejecting whatever she would give him. At one point a wet, stained paper towel was tossed across the car and landed on a woman sitting opposite. The way in which this handkerchief flew through the air caused me to chuckle. The victim’s reaction was even better, first looking down at this wet rag on her chest, then picking it up with the tips of her thumb and index finger, and gently placing it on the floor of the train. Apologies were forthcoming and accepted, and I was hard-pressed to keep my laughing contained.

Today I left the house feeling good. I had started a diet and I was beginning to see results. I put on my bright orange polo shirt (which was really a polo knock-off) and a pair of jeans and went out on a perfect spring day.

The sheen was taken off my high spirits when I glanced over at a woman holding a ratty, little Yorkshire terrier.

I never liked these dogs to begin with. But, this particular one was wearing my bright orange polo shirt. Except, this one was a genuine Ralph Lauren Polo; the stitched insignia on the shirt’s miniature collar was in full view. I was sick, not because this oversized rodent was wearing my shirt, but because it most certainly cost more than mine. Ugh!