Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Subway

As I waited for the NQ train on the platform at Union Square, I gently placed my Trader Joe's bag on the ground. Feeling a bit peckish, I reached for my recently purchased dried mangoes. These puppies are not cheap, not terribly pricey either, but I'm a poor actor so everything is precious.

As I tear the first piece in half and find absolute delight that these dried mangoes are juicy and flavorful, a middle-aged woman rounds the pillar and glances down at my bag. Feeling my recently purchased items from Trader Joe's may be snatched before my very eyes, I quickly (and subtly) grab the bag. At this, she turns to me and looks at the piece of mango in my hand and points at it...(?) I just look at her confusedly. She then points to herself, then back to the piece of dried mango in my hand, then back to herself...(?) Again, my face reads absolute confusion. She then gestures to the bag of mangoes in my bag. Why she is not using words, I cannot understand...(?)

Finally, I just say, "You want my food?!" To which she energetically nods her head like this is a normal request. Unable to control myself, I just started laughing at the absurdity of this moment. It's like walking up to a person in a restaurant and asking to try a bite of their steak. Luckily a train pulled up shortly thereafter & ended this rather awkward and dumbfounding moment.

I love knowing that no matter how long I live in New York, I will experience something completely new & totally strange at any given moment.