It happened few days back but I did not get the chance to write....
So I was in the Uptown 4 train. The compartment was filled with tired souls some of whom were sleeping with mouths open, other busy listening to music and vigorously moving their heads to the fast rhythm and yet some were looking around to the strange world they are a part of. Amid all these strangers and queer movements of head and legs and feet, there were various sounds- obviously packed train...people are talking, some are listening to the music so loud that it makes really no sense in using a ear plug for them...Anyway...letting my ear hear more, I directed my focus on this specific voice and the following sounds.
This voice was of an African American lady and the following sounds were the silent sobs of her daughter whom she was scolding. I being professionally involved working with children and parents grew more curious to know what the issue was though it was none of my business! However, There was a group of people in front of me and I could only see the mom's face and the kids legs through the gaps. There were 2 children. The eldest was sitting next to mom and crying because she was being scolded. So the mom was saying the following (I can't write the whole stuff as it carries loads of "f"s but still...)
"So you think you are very smart huh? Why did you put this thing in your mouth? Is this what you teach your little brother to put this thing in his mouth? You could have landed all of us in trouble, how dare you do it?Tell me. You think you can get everything done your way, you go to ....house and laugh heheheheheh, and then don't listen to me when I ask you not to run, no outing for you. I work my ....off and you put that thing in you mouth and make my day hah! Is this what you teach your brother? You are setting a bad example of yourself. Why did you put that thing in your mouth?" There were many more "this thing " and "that thing."
By this time I was able to see the kids' heads, both had the African braid with beads and both looked really cute. My instant feeling was that the elder one tried to put a bead in the mouth and mom saw it on time and was angry. She has all the right too. But wait.....the beads are tightly set and neither of the kids have so long hairs to get into the mouth of either. So now I was curious to know "what is the thing?"
161st street station in the Bronx is the location for Yankee Stadium too. So a huge group of people left the train to go to the stadium, so did the group standing in front of me.Now I could see the kids clearly. I saw the young boy blankly looking at his mother while the elder daughter who is hardly 5 years in age is sitting next to her mother and crying. Just once I could hear the child for the first time saying "I saw you and wanted to eat it like candy." To which mom said"you want me to believe this, and you thought this thing to be a candy?" It was still not clear .... By now it was about 20 minutes and finally when we reached the 167th station, mom unveiled the thing. The moment she stepped out of the train she strictly instructed her daughter. She said-
"Next time you pick up my cigarette from my lap and put it in your mouth, I will not spare you." Then the child in between sobs replied "but you are having it" and mom said "I can have it.....you want to be me? You are not Mommy...............just shut up and listen to what I say."
Hah! I was surprised and then had question filling up my mind again. I am still looking for answers-
1. For about 20 minutes I had developed an impression of a caring mother who wants to keep her children safe but after knowing the "thing" and I want to insist on the "how?"
2.What right did mom has to tell her daughter about setting examples? What is she up to?
3.Shouldn't she follow before preaching?????????
