Mind the Gap, India
The sun was setting into the hills as the slow moving coal engine train carted home a mob of tired workers and city dwellers. There was no room to breath too deeply, but never too crowded for more riders to join the journey. People speak and stare and smile, maybe the color of my skin has something to do with it, but at least we communicate. The train pulls into a crowded station platform, and as soon as the flood gates open, it fills with a rainbow of color lost in a sea of black headed locals.
The evening’s cool mist creeps into the car, allowing for the beads of sweat dripping from many a face to dry off and disappear. A young woman, no older than myself at the time, stood in front of me, looking down as if pondering some plan in her head. Before I could react, she was in my lap and I was now responsible for guarding her two parcels. I laughed and we enjoyed the moment. The voice heard through body language is strong and resonates clearly throughout this wide world.
2010 Copyright, Jennifer Campos
