Public Transportation

Girl #1: I will not touch your chest on a crowded subway.
Girl #2: Some other place, then.

–4 Train

Two tween girls push into a very crowded train, causing a woman to almost lose her footing.

Woman: You can’t just push if there’s nowhere to go!

The doors start to close.

Tween girl: Obviously I could.

–6 train

Overheard by: Francesca

Father, holding toddler son: Alright, I'm bored. Let's go try and find some rats.
Toddler son: Oh! Rats!

–1 Train

Overheard by: John

MTA conductor: Rector street is next. The next stop is rector street.
Old lady tourist to friend: Rector… Rector… Rectum.

–1 Train

Overheard by: Well, we’ve all thought it

College student: This is the best Barnes & Noble I've ever seen!

–Borders, Time Warner Center

Student: So, the author of the Tao Te Ching, Lao-low… Fuck it, we're calling him L-train.

–Eugene Lang College

Overheard by: Harker

Large woman with friends: Oh, girl, I got to tell you about this book I'm reading. It's off the hook! They're sending in this undercover agent, and I think it's his sister, but he's all getting ready to have sex with her!

–White Castle, 36th & 8th

Overheard by: Duncan Pflaster

Woman on phone: I was in Union Square, so I stopped in Barnes & Noble. (pause) Nigga, I can read!

–Union Square

Little British boy: Oh my goodness, dad, look! They have books on dating. How to Date? is probably like, "Don't take her to McDonald's!"

–Barnes & Noble

Overheard by: Laura

Tattooed artsy guy, putting hand on artsy Asian girl's shoulder: I read your book and really liked it… lotta pissing, huh?

–Mott & Prince

Woman: I assure you, every subway I ride does not have a camera.
Bus driver: The conductor has a screen in front of him; every car.

–B63 bus

Conductor: There will be no Seven Train service today.
Hardhat: Good. After the Mets lose, we don’t need the fucking Seven Train!

–6 train

Overheard by: phenders

Woman on cell: And when my brother got near him, his poop came out. That's how scared he was.

–107th & Broadway

Woman on cell: So yeah, they are really scary, like if you walk in the house they will bark really loud, and that's totally worse than them biting you.

–Majestic Theater

Girl on cell: I went in for genetic counseling and I found out things that scared me.

–10th Ave & 39th St

Overheard by: Todd Fletcher

Girl on cell: No, you can't go! I'm too stoned and too scared. Just stay on the phone with me, please.

–Supermarket, Astoria

Conductor: Never fear! The phantom of the train is here!

–7 Train

Overheard by: Alex

Loud girl: She's leaving the train!
Loud friends #1, #2, #3 and #4: Yay!
Loud friend #1: She's leaving the train!
Loud friend #2: She is! Yay!
Girl getting off train: I love you guys! I'm leaving!
All: Bye!
(train leaves platform)
All: She's off the train! Yeah, she got off the train!
(they all start singing very loudly)

–1 Train

Meek tourist, after spending 10 minutes trying to hail a cab: Can you please help me hail a cab?
Disgruntled cop: Fuck you! Find your own damn cab! Christ!

–Times Square