Small wonders
Just when I start to get used to the smell on the T, the insanely inefficient fare “collection” system and the new “random” searches at selected T stations – someone goes and does something nice and throws me off.

Yesterday I was riding home, minding my own business while enjoying a delightful book when a mom and her two boys got on the train at Harvard station. There were plenty of seats available so they parked pretty quickly.

The older boy, I’d say he was about seven, was excited to watch the tunnel fly by as he gazed out the window. His younger brother, around four, was eating some ice cream when he quickly dropped the ice cream on the floor of the train. His mother swooped in before he could do something crazy like eat it off the floor and confiscated the tainted dessert.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “But it’s too dirty for you to eat now.”

The little boy looked a bit put out, but he didn’t seem on the verge of a tantrum. His older brother quickly observed what happened and moved into action. He was also eating ice cream and handed over his remaining treat to his brother. His mother smiled, his brother gobbled and I can say that passengers who watched this little drama pass were completely delighted and enchanted. A few people smiled, nodded, one guy even patted the kid on the back.

His little brother didn’t say much but he licked the paper bowl with great relish after finishing his last bite. His mother was quite proud and the older kid went back to staring outside as the train raced through the tunnel.