This is a first.
A definite first.
“See?” I said to the person sitting next to me on the train. “See that guy over there? He fell asleep standing up.”
I didn’t wait for my train buddy to answer.
“I call that the Statue style.”
Ever since moving to Tokyo a few years ago, I have observed hundreds of passengers asleep on the train; not to mention, a variety of impressive subway sleeping postures.
“See her?” I gently nudged my buddy. “Hands folded across lap. Head tilted way back. She’s definitely a Stargazer.”
“And, that guy,” I said as I viewed a snoring young man slouched in his seat with his hat pulled over his face. “He is what I call The Cowboy.”
“And,” I continued, “Do you see the woman who has fallen asleep with her head forward and her hands under her chin? She is The Thinker. And, that guy over there? He fell asleep with his sunglasses on. He is The Poker Player. But, to be honest with you, sometimes I can’t tell. He actually could be a poker player.”
“And,” I continued, “Do you see the sleepy passenger whose head bobs side to side? He has definitely fallen asleep in Table Tennis mode.”
“And, you,” I said a bit louder to the person next to me. “You are what I call The Sleeping Lion.”
This is a first.
A definite first.
A fellow train passenger has fallen asleep on my shoulder. Deeply, deeply asleep on my shoulder.
I could not wake him with my silly subway sleep observations.
“Sumimasen, sumimasen,” I said a bit louder. “Ummm… Sleeping Lion…my station stop is coming up soon….sumimasen….”
I could not wake him with sumimasen.
“Hi, Honey,” I pretended to speak on my cell phone. “Mommy will be late tonight. I am trapped by a lion.”
I could not wake him with a loud cell phone conversation.
This is a first.
A definite first.
I have no choice. Apparently my escape will require some sort of creative calisthenics. Tuck and roll? Back handstand? Aerial cartwheel? I wish I was better at gymnastics.
“Lion, how can you sleep?” I yawned. “There is so much constant commotion…and all those calming announcements…and the gentle rumbling…and the soothing white noise…and…the….hypnotic hum...”
This is a first.
A definite first.
Shhhhh.
