The Ever Observant Train Rider

I am CheekeyMonkey. I am "The Ever Observant Train Rider". I see you, but you don’t see me.

You are Mr. Self-Importance. You hold your Grande Starbucks in your hand, cut in front of everyone in line just to secure your spot by the door. You do not let anyone off the train while you shove me to the side. Then you usher people in, pretending to be so kind.

You are Ms. Prim and Proper. Sitting there with you hair and make-up perfectly done. You were lucky enough to get a seat and you are reading the latest “bestseller”. You were the perfect shade of eye shadow to match your pastel coat. You hold onto your trendy purse and you never look up. You get annoyed when the seat next to you gets filled. You were probably popular in school, but never the Prom Queen.

You are the Goth, Angst Ridden Student. You could be a downtown art student, but most likely you are an honors student at the local high school. You use your looks to detract from the fact that you are smart. Smart is not cool. You get annoyed at the adults who “just don’t get it” as you shove your way through the crowd. You roll your eyes at all the conformists and click your tongue ring.

You are a part of the iPod Posse. You got your iPod for Christmas, but act like you have had it since it came out. You peek at it at every stop, making sure all new riders know you are a part of the iPod Posse. The Angst Ridden Student really dislikes you. Come to think of it, so does Ms. Prim and Proper as you are brushing up against her perfect coiffeur.

You are the Administrative Assistant, pretending to be something more with your briefcase. However, your vacant look and gym shoes give you away. You don’t care enough to shower in the morning. You don’t think anyone can tell, but I do. I know all about you. I am bored with you.

You are the Frequent Traveler. You get on with all your bags during morning rush hour and stand right in front of the doors while reading the latest John Grisham paperback. Your lips move when you read and you use your Barnes & Noble receipt as your book mark. Your only saving grace is that you don’t dog ear the pages. I would step on your foot, but I am being blocked by your Samsonite.

You are The Hard Worker. Your hands are dirty, but you are a proud man. You probably work two or three jobs and want to give your kids everything. You try not to stand to close and you too are annoyed at Mr. Self-Importance. You kindly smile at passengers getting on and off, but try to remain anonymous.

You are Ms.-Look-at-Me-and-If-You-Don’t-I-Will-Make-Sure-You-Do. You are much like Mr. Self-Importance making no room for any other rider and openly irritated should anyone sit or stand next to you. You, too, have an iPod, with one ear bug in, and you are busy talking loudly on your cell phone disturbing the quiet that we all enjoy on the early morning train ride. You are not important enough to be talking to someone at 7.16 in the am, but you act it. You pretend you are Urban and Street. You are probably from the ‘burbs, or worse, Nebraska. You wear all the latest fashions, in one go. You are fake from top to bottom. No one really likes you. The person on the other end of your cell is probably your Mom.

I am the CheekeyMonkey. I am The Ever Observant Train Rider. You don’t notice me. You step on me, even though I am shoved into a corner. You barely look back and you do not apologize. I am CheekeyMonkey, The Ever Observant Train Rider. You don’t see me, but I see you. Be careful who you are, CheekeyMonkey is always watching.