Crazy NY Subway Experience #1

My roommate, Sam, and I were heading to Brooklyn.  My best friend Amy was throwing a birthday party for her roommate and she invited us.  Before walking to our subway station, we stopped across the street to buy a bottle of cheap champagne.

The subway was packed.  Sam and I had managed to snag seats, while the rest of the train car was filled with people standing and awkwardly trying not to fall into each other every time the train unexpectedly jolted.

I sat cradling the champagne bottle when a black man, decked head to toe in Sean John, asked what was in the bottle.

"Oh, nothing," I said, actually thinking this would make him leave me alone. 

"Why are you avoiding the question?"  He asked.

"It's champagne," I said, trying not to make eye contact.

"Well lets bust that s*** open!"  He laughed, nudging his companions who laughed with him.

"I can't, it's for my friend's birthday."  I looked at Sam, hoping if we had to rumble with these guys over a bottle of cheap champagne, her badass Philly chick side would come out and scrub the floor with them, but she just pretended not hear anything... thanks Sam.

"What if the train stalls and we are stuck in here for hours and we're really thirsty?"  He asked.  Before I could answer, he added "...and I sing to you!?"

I looked at him in the eye for the first time.  "Ok...if the train gets stuck for hours, and you sing to me, I will open the champagne. "  

And G-d, with His fabulous sense of humor, stalled the damn train.  It sat next to the platform, but the doors would not open and the driver came over the intercom to tell the crowded cars to be patient.

"BUST IT OPEN!"  Yelled the man.  I could hear the guy next to me sniggering to himself.

"Hey, you said you would sing to me first," I flung back, thinking I had shut him up.

Turns out this guy is a really good singer!  He started singing an R&B type melody, complete with the lyrics "Open the champagne, girl, just open the champagne."  The crowded subway car fell silent as the guy sung louder and louder, right at me.  I could feel my face blushing bright red as the other passengers laughed and clapped along with the singing.

Just as the song came to a close the subway doors opened and he prepared to step out, obviously disappointed.

"I'm sorry I couldn't open it for you," I said as he prepared to leave.  "But you're really good...you should totally audition for American Idol!"  

As the train pulled away from the platform, a girl a few seats down said, "that song is gonna be stuck in my head all night."

Crazy NY Subway Experience #1:  Being serenaded on a crowded car.