Man asks me,
u got warrants?
I ain't got no warrants.
U ever been arrested?
Yeah... but not in no long time, like I don't even know. What I do?
There's no walking between cars.
Really? U get the old lady that was right in front of me?
Plain clothes got her.
Where she at?
They kept her on the train.
U saying since she got snatched by detecs she stay on her train?
We're uniformed. We take people OFF the train.
Damn. I give him the I'm-muMs-spiel but he ain't having it while he run my name. To myself I'm thinking I ain't got no warrants... I don't think. I aint done nothing since I been back and they ain't gonna see that Cali shit. I think I'm clean. I'm clean. Say it again confident.
Clean. Upstanding. I got rights.
I say out loud, how u gonna bag me for walking between cars while 50 people got shot last weekend!? I ain't do nothing! Man... three trains gone by already!
Man look hard at me, I look hard back. He go and come back, say, u ever been to Brooklyn?
Yeah I been to Brooklyn. I don't live in Brooklyn but I been on Brooklyn.
You have a warrant in Brooklyn?
Word? Wait... What???
My heart beats, adrenaline jumps, knee stops hurting, breathing steadies. Everything slows down. His gun, on his right side. He thumb on the holster release. His partner half cocked, back turned. They're ready for me to make a move. There's a fence at the end of the platform. Breathe. Think.
He's got my license, can't go home. How much cash I got on me? Breathe. There is nothing but this moment. This second to assess. Survive.
Man looks in my eye. My face empty.
Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
Man takes out a notepad, copies my information, says take care of your warrant. Hands me back my license.