Happy in green

After a spontaneous social night on Friday I climbed back on the train to go home. Typically at 11 at night, the comfort of being in a public location place especially on one of the drunk holidays. But I entered the train to see a young family bouncing a beautiful one year old girl with a full head of hair. It was late and clearly she was awake for the excitement, but they were still trying to get her to sleep. Right after I walked on, three people who carried most of their belongings with them followed too. They quietly sat on the parallel bench to where the family stood. One man, carrying a dozen peach colored roses and wearing a green beaded tie looked at the family. In his bright blue eyes, you could watch flashes of nostalgia, maybe thinking of his own family or children. When the little girl turned to look at him, he grinned, showing all the gaps in his smile. Her mom turned to see who she was looking at and old her to wave. The familiar exchange of "can you say hi?" And an eager other party making faces and waving back in encouragement ensued. Later when the little girl dropped her stuffed animal as they were about to exit, the humility of the gap-smiled man to pick it up and hand it to her was precious. The family left, waving to the three on the bench seat, dragging the wagon behind them.
The three exited a few stops later, toting a dozen roses and whispers of memories with them.