Strange Smiles

     
   Two stops after me, a thin man boards the tram. Glancing cautiously around him, he chooses to sit next to me. I shift - uncomfortably. He's not exactly my type of guy, you know. His breath smells of alcohol; he cuddles his hands as if they're cold. "Don't do anything foolish", I say to myself. "Just let him be".

   "Hi", he says to me. I uneasily reply with a hello, hoping he won't start a conversation. Seemingly content with my reply, he proceeds to occupy a little more of the bench space.

   I continue counting the number of stops left. Abruptly he turns to me and asks: "How was your day?", to which I -curtly enough- reply: "Good, thank G-d". Once again he's quiet.

   Who is this guy, I wonder. Bald, with a stylish but well-worn cap on his head, he looks to me like he's seen better days. I just hope he doesn't want anything from me. But he doesn't seem to. I get the impression that he's content just being next to me. Why, I don't know.

   After the next stop, he stands up and prepares to leave. He has kind of a spaced-out look to him, I notice. As though he has what to think about. Or maybe he's tired.

   A minute later the tram pulls up to the stop where he'll leave me. Exited enough at the prospect, I look his way as he departs. As he does, though, he looks my way again. Lifting his hand to resemble a wave, he smiles and says: "See ya later".

   After he was gone, I smiled back.