Days Of Our Multiple Lives

(I’m sitting on the train when this old man with a long white beard comes on and sits close by. He’s quite the character: leopard print top hat, huge round sunglasses, a floor-length robe, what looks like a turquoise net with ornaments on it draped over his shoulders, a carved walking stick, and a twisted horn hanging from his belt. His walker is almost as decked out as he is. A few stops later, a college-age girl gets on the train and sits a few seats away from the old man. She doesn’t notice him at first, but as soon as she does, she excitedly switches seats to sit across from him.)

Girl: “I want to sit across from you so I can look at you!”

Old Man: *without missing a beat* “I’m 736 months old!”

Girl: *as if he just imparted invaluable wisdom* “Wow! I don’t know how old I am because I don’t know how many lives I’ve had, but—” *she gets really solemn and leans forward* “—this definitely isn’t my first.”

Old Man: “Well, that’s just crazy.”

(He immediately stood up and moved to another part of the train, leaving the girl looking like she’d just been spurned by a beloved mentor.)