New York Minute 153 - Mobile Breakfast

On two separate mornings this past week, I watched someone walk onto the subway, take a seat, pull out a container of cooked food, and eat their breakfast on the train. It was a guy in both cases (not the same guy), and their food had a repulsive smell. The smell was so strong, I was compelled to move away several steps each time in order to avoid feeling nauseous.

The fellow having breakfast on the train yesterday morning took dining on public transportation to a new level, eating like an unsupervised toddler. 

In the small, clear plastic container that held his breakfast was a chicken breast, an ear of corn, and a serving of angel hair pasta. I couldn’t see into the box, which was wrapped in an opaque plastic bag, but I saw him pick the chicken and the corn up with his fingers and inspect them before deciding what to start eating.

He began with the angel hair pasta. He struggled with it, because the only utensil that he’d brought along was a plastic spoon. To be fair, I would have struggled, too, using just a spoon, but I might have waited until I could get my hands on a fork before attempting to eat capellini.

He held the spoon in his somewhat unsteady left hand and tried unsuccessfully to pick up bits of pasta. He had to reach in with his other hand to help scoop the pasta onto his spoon. This went on for a while, during which time the poor fellow dropped a fair amount of pasta onto his clothing. Each time he dropped a bit, he would carefully pick it up strand by strand with his fingers and put it into his mouth.

After a while, the guy gave up on the pasta. It was too laborious to eat it with a spoon. He picked up the ear of corn and ate it slowlyand methodically. I didn’t see him attempt to eat the chicken breast; he might have been saving it for later. 

After working on the corn for a while, the gent returned to his capellini. This time, he didn’t even attempt to use the spoon. He just ate with his his, pinching one strand at a time with his fingers (I’m not kidding) and putting each strand into his mouth. 

I hope that the guy enjoyed his meal. He worked hard enough for it.

Copyright © 2019 Daniel R. South 

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