Saw Something, Said Something

I was riding the Green Line from Brighton to Back Bay, going back to work from a doctor's appointment. So I was enjoying, for once, a solitary commute.
As I rode along, in blissful reverie, I became aware that three loud teenagers next to me were making fun of an older Asian lady and a younger Asian woman, who had the misfortune to be standing in front of them, but facing away from them.

They were screeching with laughter and openly mocking the older lady's backpack, and being totally stupid, but THEN they actually started rolling up pieces of paper and flinging them at the backpack, and laughing about it when they landed on top. I turned and stared at them with outrage and disgust, with my Look. (Moms know how to give the Look)

One of them said "She doesn't like that. I guess she doesn't like black people."

I said "Are you talking about ME????" using the Voice.

Then I went on "Why are you doing that?" They hooted in reply. "Do you think its funny?" I continued. "Because it's not. Do you think it makes you look cool? Because it doesn't."

As they practically rolled on the floor howling, I looked around the train to see if anyone was noticing, or caring. One father with young kids looked at me and nodded vigorously, like "you go girl!" Everyone else studiously looked elsewhere.

The largest, noisiest girl said "Mind your own business!" and I said that when I see people harrassing other people, I speak up. To which one of the smaller girls tartly replied that I was now harrassing them!

Then the Large, Noisy one took out her cell phone and called her friends asking them to meet her at Park Street so they could take care of me for good. They didn't express it that nicely. I, however, was unconcerned as I was getting off before Park Street.

As luck would have it, the train stopped in the tunnel before it entered the station, so I had to stand directly in front of the Enfants Terribles for a few minutes, which gave me time to lecture the girls some more. "I feel sorry for you," I said with totally fake compassion. "you are young girls who should have more interesting things to do than to make fun of other people." The Enormous One's face contorted with absolute rage and hate, and she fired off her parting shot: "Yeah, and you've already lived your life, Old-Ass Lady!" Whoa!

I stepped off the train, feeling that I had acquitted myself admirably, even fabulously. Though that Old-Ass Lady part did sting a bit, ouch!