Dress Warm-You Never Know When You're Gunna Sleep on the Streets

Last night the inevitable finally happened. I stayed out too late and missed the last train back to CT. Was actually surprised this was the first time it happened, I felt like I've stayed out much later and still made the train...if that makes sense. Let me just say, there was nothing fun, romantic or adventurous about the night. There's nothing to do in NYC on a Wednesday night after 2am, it's not like I'm in fucking London, on a weekend. I'm pretty sure most bars close @ 2am in NYC so that left me with NOTHING to do, except wait.




"How old are u" A NYC police Office said to me.

"Does it matter?"

"Well if your over 18 then you're a man...act like a man" -He said with great verbrato and dignity.

"Go to McDonalds, sit down, the station is closed, there's nothing I can do for you".

Although the officer insulted my manhood and character, he was right. What the hell did I expect him to do for me? I missed the last train. It was 2am and grand central was effectively closed. The first train ran @ 6am and I had absolutely nowhere to go.

Taxi Driver waiting until 4am for someone to drive to out of state

I tried to convince a taxi driver to give me a ride to CT for 40 bucks. He took out his book and told me it would cost $200. I laughed and said no thanks. Eventually he went down to $100 or $80 to go to Greenwich (half an hour from home, but my grandmother resides in GT), probably could have talked him down to $80 and $60 but what was the point? I didn't have the money, can't hustle a man with no cash in his pockets, so I just sat.

Barrier to keep homeless people out, great work guys!

Some prick police officer told me I couldn't pass his barrier. Why does it seem like every time I actually need the police to do something for me, they tell me, "there's nothing I can".

"Go to McDonalds"

I went to McDonalds, that's the first thing I did. Don't tell me to go to McDonalds, I wanna go fucking home!

My Indian comrade

I eventually passed the barrier when the officers switched duty, with my Indian friend named Singh. After being around a lot of Indian guys I've come to realize they're almost all the same. Smart, level headed and kind.

"Don't let that cop see you, he'll kick you out on the street...its cold out there. Doesn't matter if you're 5 or 50, its still cold"

We made our way to the rest area of Grand Central and set up shop on the wooden bench that stretched 25 feet along the wall.

Finally, a place to sit. Peace and quite away from the commotion and confusion of NYC. There were no bums or weirdos here, just an open room, with that inescapable tan hue glaring down on me as I tried to get comfortable and fall asleep.

I realized I wouldn't even be sleeping if I was home in the comfort of my own bedroom, why did I think I could fall asleep on a bench in Grand Central.

This is where I had to sleep

As I lay down, sprawled across the wooden bench, I thought of the thousands of people that might have slept there, or atleast sat there before me. It was a disturbing thought that nearly made me sick, and I wished I was back home and that I could fall asleep elsewhere, but it was 3am and I really had nowhere to go.

I slept lightly for about 2 hours but really, didn't feel like I slept at all. I was too nervous to leave all my stuff exposed, so I slept with my backpack strapped to my arm. I suppose if someone wanted to take my cameras all they would have to do was unzip the back pack and make off, but it gave me just the right amount of comfort to help me go to sleep.

I woke up @ 5:15am. My acquaintance Singh still fast asleep in the same position he layed the entire the time, as if he slept there nightly. There were a couple other people in the room and I decided to leave.

I took a piss in the bathroom and realized there were a gang of homeless people washing up and walking the lower level. I'm so used to Grand Central being insanely crowded, even the bathrooms, there's sometimes a line and they're always grimy as hell; the bathrooms weren't exactly empty and they were by no means clean, but they were certainly cleaner and less crowded than I was a custom too. Again I got that disgusted feeling in my gut and decided I needed to leave NYC all together.

I bought a Donut, and thought about getting a coffee, but decided I better not because I still needed to get a good rest before the rest of the day ahead of me.

I practically know this woman by first name

The sun wasn't even up yet as I finished my last cigarette and walked over to board my train. Ironically I had to pay an extra $3.50 to ride back to CT because it was "peak hours". Peak hours my ass, I just slept in Grand Central, I have a headache, I need a shower, a cold drink and a couple of Tylenols-fuck peak hours, Grand Central, the NYC Police Department, the fucking guy driving the subway that made me late, the taxi driver for being a greedy bastard with no heart, the asshole cop that told me I couldn't cross the barrier and almost made me sleep outside, all the homeless people that hang around NYC that I almost know by fucking name by now, fuck the fact that there is no feasible way to get back to CT after 2am.

No. Fuck me for being a fucking idiot with no sense of judgement.




Good night,


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