“Stephen” rides my train. He’s a husky fellow, in his mid 30s, and he’s eating a muffin most times I see him. He looks a bit like that actor Richard Kind, who you’ve seen on Spin City and Mad About You. He gets off in White Plains.  Stephen is mentally handicapped. (Of course, Stephen is not his real name.) I think it’s great that this guy gets on a train and goes to work or school or whatever he does most days. People in the car that he usually sits in seem to know him, and offer up banter. You’d have to be heartless not to root for a guy like that.  

But sometimes Stephen creates awkward situations. As he prepares to exit, Stephen will frequently strike up conversation with others in a somewhat jarring way. “Have you ever been in the hospital?” is one approach I’ve heard more than once, or “Do you work for IBM?” 

Those that know Stephen play along: Yes, Stephen, I was in the hospital once, when I had my gall bladder removed. No, Stephen, I’ve never worked for IBM. But I wouldn’t mind tapping that pension plan.  

But sometimes it goes badly. It’s early and people haven’t had their coffee, they’re reading or iPodding, and sometimes they just don’t want to play along. Or maybe they don’t know Stephen; they’re first-time riders, or they’re trying out a different section of the train, and suddenly a husky stranger is asking them if they’ve ever been hospitalized. Occasionally people ignore him, or they snap back at him with something impolitic.   

This makes Stephen angry. At least twice, I’ve seen his face clench, before he blurts out, “I HATE YOU!” 

He gets off, but the blanket of awkwardness stays in the car.