Change Days

Frank does not normally take the metro, but his car’s engine was overheating this morning, so there was no way out. He put a baggy hoodie and a pair of sunglasses on; slid his jotter, iphone, keys and cigarettes into his messenger bag; and off he went. On his way to the station he bought a grande coffee at Starbucks and an oatmeal cookie.

He came to New York to give his second solo album the final touch. He and Jamia had been working on it at their home studio, but they both thought Frank should try something different this time. They took advantage of summer break and while he was working up there, she and the kids would be having some fun in Disney World. It sounded like a deal.

“I thought this place was supposed to be cramped”, thought Frank as he entered the station.
He was off the rush hours, but he was told that the metro was crowded almost all the time during summer vacations. He took a seat, and put his hood up. Right after that, a guy sitting opposite to him got his phone up and the flash went off. “Gotcha” he said.

“Jeez. I’m shit at going incognito”, he murmured to himself.

A young girl with a guitar entered the wagon. She laid the guitar case on the floor and said: “Hello, commuters, tourists, city dwellers, I am going to entertain you a little bit. What about a song, huh? This is a personal favourite of mine: ‘Na Na Na’, by My Chemical Romance”. Frank felt a shiver running down his spine. It’s been six years. Unbelievable.

When the girl finished her act, she waited a bit, and went into the other wagon. Frank got up and followed her.

- Excuse me…
- Yes?.
- I really liked it.
- Thank you.
- I am…
- I know who you are, for God’s sake, Frankie. Now, do you remember me?
- Should I? Wait…

The girl gave him a funny look.

- Grace? Oh Jesus fucking Christ! Grace, you’re all grown up!
- Well, kind of, you’re still taller than me.

Frank giggled.

- Hey, you know, I… Don’t take this in a wrong way, but… you know, you’ve faked your death for a fairly long time. It’s… It’s time to come back to life.

Frank nodded and she gave him a peck on the cheek before she got off the wagon at the next station. She was right, Frank thought, it has been long enough.

Notes