Teen Cleans Out First Wallet

[tags] teen, wallet, metro, heartache [/tags]

Even heartache has a place on Metro.

In an event that spelled certain doom for any optimistic late night moods on the part of the Metro bus cleaning crew, one angst filled teen decided it was high time he clean out the ol’ 13th birthday wallet. And if the pile of notes and cards were any sign, this kid had an action packed last couple years. Discounts on appetizers at such date places as the Cheesecake Factory and CPK as well as automotive insurance companies named after any number of letter combinations that spell “easy” fell like leaves to the floor. Each one hassle free.

Amongst the rubble were also the hopes and dreams of many a lay. Numbers and names filled the tore out pieces of notebook paper, both wide and college ruled. Shani and June and Jenn. Written in ink and in pencil, blue and #2. Some notes were unfolded before being discarded as if to ponder the once was or perhaps, never been. Had he only did this. Had he only done that. Had he only waited a bit longer so such inconsequential yet equally meaningful memories could be put in an old Adidas shoebox. After all, you kept the box for a reason right?

Though perhaps it was the perfect time to move on. After all I hate sitting on my wallet when I ride for it leaves me unbalanced so I put it in my backpack. This kid had no backpack to speak of (he should’ve read our tips) and I guess placing his wallet in his front pocket was unbearable. Therefore the only other option was to empty it right there and then. It was time to say goodbye to fair youth and hello to useless business cards and even more discount appetizers. But it’s the numbers that will be missed. The folded notes about how much she likes you that’ll be hard to forget. Which got me wondering about how much more uninspiring a wallet cleaning of my own would be, on a bus no less. How I would just end up being an asshole leaving trash.

He looked at me when I accidentally took a picture with the flash I didn’t know was a feature on my phone. I acted as if my phone was broken and took a random picture of the seat in front of me and the ceiling too, shaking my head as to wonder why my phone wasn’t working. He ignored me and went back to kicking around a lot of the papers, pushing a bunch off his lap to the seat next to him.

I got off at Fairfax and crossed the street, dodging a turning car. When I safely got across I thought back to his wallet. What was to be done with it now that it’s empty? Was this the end of notes? Was this the end of his Metro’s student discount? Was it time for him to buy a monthly pass? My bus arrived and I boarded, showing my lime green May pass and hoping the bus driver didn’t only see that and a Ralph’s card.