I may not know what it is to be that helpless girl or that troubled boy, but I do encounter situations in my life where I feel that I have been truly wronged. Maybe it’s because of the way I was brought up that I felt the situation I was in hurt me greatly. I went to a middle school where the biggest insult was failing a test, and I currently go to a high school in West Manhattan, where relatively everyone is friendly to everyone. So friendly, that my locker has never been raided and I don’t even have a lock on it. I meet random people in the hallway and it isn’t hard to become friends. So, today of all days, was the day where I felt that I was truly harassed and no one was there to stand up for me, even though I was in a crowded area.
I was on the train with my friend and we were happily talking about our K-pop obsessions, and things of that nature when her stop arrived. She stepped off the train along with others getting off at the same stop and I managed to grab a seat after the train was relatively cleared. Of course, there were people getting on the train at the same stop, and along came a group of boys, who I would rather not associate myself with. In fact, I have never been close to boys who considered themselves with a great amount of “swag”, neither do I find sagging pants attractive. One of them, I assume the “leader” (not that he has claimed the title, but he did act like he was) sat next to me. I was bent down trying to put my wallet inside my bag. When I bent back up immediately he started the oh so famous catchphrase. “Hey I just met you, and this is crazy, but here’s my number so call me, maybe.” He held out his palm, as if there was a number. I admit, I did look at him when he started talking, because people talk to get attention, and he got it, from me, but I was just curious. After that I ignored him, but them he loudly said “HEY!”, and I looked at him. “You don’t want my number?”
“I don’t even like that song,” I swiftly said, but I soon realized it was terrible mistake. He had the audacity to tell one of his friends to start recording the scenario. I was trying my best to ignore him from reading Sherlock Holmes to playing Spider Solitaire. Solitaire was a disaster because he had the nerve to go and touch my phone.
The greatest insult was when he started to say, “How could you break up with me, it’s almost Valentine’s?” Now, let me get this straight. I don’t have a boyfriend, neither do I plan to have one anytime soon, but I would never do something as heartless as to break up with someone the day before Valentines, neither would I enjoy a breakup the day before, on my part.
Now, if you’re not religious I understand, but I believe God did help me to this tribulation. When the train started clearing up I had the liberty to look around the train. His friends had stopped recording in worry of the phone battery dying (I think), and he had stopped talking to me for a while, but every time a new group of people would get on board the train, he would start the spectacle again. By that time I had seen it already. On the train, there is a sign that states to “PLEASE NO EATING” or “PLEASE NO RADIOS”, but someone had wrote next to the “PLEASE” PRAY.
PLEASE PRAY.
Soon his friend said, “Yo, that’s her dad!” He was looking at the elderly man sitting next to me. Quickly the “leader” stood up and left. Eventually, the man left and the “leader” realizing his “folly” sat next to me. I looked up at the sign again, and truthfully it gave me courage. Of course not soon after his harsh shove at my side, him and his group had left the train.
I have never in my life met such a group of misogynistic teenagers. A young lady should never be treated in such a manner, especially by a stranger. He himself, acted like an uneducated person, so I understand that any retorts that I had even thrown at him, he couldn’t understand, but he has no right to act like that, or insult any one.
He probably won’t ever read this, and this wasn’t even a big deal, but I felt like I needed to get this off my chest. Thank you for listening to me, if anyone is.
I would like to send you off with a few lyrics. I don’t particularly like this song, but the lyrics are truly moving to me.
I’ve come through many hard trials
Through temptations on every hand
Though Satan’s tried to stop me
And to place my feet on sinking sand
Through the pain and all of my sorrows
Through tears and all of my fears
The Lord was there to keep me
For He’s kept me in the midst of it all
Not because I’ve been so faithful
Not Because I’ve always obeyed
It’s not because I trust him
To be with me all of the way
But it’s because He loves me so dearly
He was there to answer my call
There always to protect me
For He’s kept me in the midst of it all
-Yolanda Adams; In the Midst of it All
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