Priority Use

When I was on the train in New Jersey on my way to Philadelphia this weekend, I overheard a phone conversation that was mildly disturbing, and very much like something one would watch unfold on one of those action-packed, inner city crime shows.

Apparently (now, this part of the story came from his mouth to the guy sitting in front of him after the guy chuckled (?) a bit while overhearing the phone conversation--a nervous laugh, I'll never know. I certainly didn't have the courage enough to laugh, though I certainly felt like it) the guy on the phone--his name is Steve--was going around with a girl who he met at a bar down in Key West (I think Florida, but I didn't catch all of that part). So there was another guy there trying to hit on his girl, but the girl chose Steve, my train mate. I guess Steve and his chick have been arguing for a couple of months and somehow he's here and she's still there (wherever there is). So Steve was calling his homeboy to ask him for a little favor. He wants him to call around and see if the other guy is hanging around with his girl. And, if he is, then Steve told his homeboy that he'd have to go down and beat him up. Homeboy was assured that there'd be lots of money in it for him--he has lots of money somehow. Apologies for stereotyping, but something tells me his money might not be from legal professional endeavors. Steve's from the Bronx--now he's talking to the guy sitting in front of him on the train--and he don't play games (I believed him). He's 29 and this chick is 22 or 23. He's been around the block and just wants it told like it is.

I don't mean to chronicle this conversation in an effort to belittle or to have a laugh at other people's situations. It was more that I was just amazed at what I was overhearing. I'm probably sheltered, but still. This conversation was whack. I didn't even understand some of the words that Steve was using. They might have made some sense otherwise, but contextually, I couldn't figure out how they all fit together: flanking? roll? X-10? licked?

Bizarre.

Anyway, that's all. It was probably more interesting to be there. It would have been one of those situations where all you can do is share a little eyebrow raise with your friend sitting next to you. Unfortunately, I no friends, and I didn't much trust anyone around me enough to share anything other than an "Excuse me" or "Thank you."