Tommy scanned the car as we stepped into the train.  A girl with gold hoop earrings and a down jacket fussed over a stroller opposite us.  He sat next to the door and closed his eyes. I sat across from him listening to the faint trail of King Diamond leaking through his headphones. 

Tommy kept both hands in his pockets. He may have looked asleep, but I knew he watched everything. Each time the doors chimed, he glanced up to see who got on or off.

The conductor called through muffled speakers “20^th Avenue:Next stop Bay Parkway.”  Tommy opened his eyes.  The lady stood up and zipped her coat.  She leaned over the stroller, tucked some blankets in, and pushed it near the doors. Outside, the setting sun cast bursts of orange light against the sea of apartment buildings and brick houses.

The woman left.  A big guy slipped in as the doors closed. The doo-rag clinging to hair cut lines into his forehead. I could see the big gold caps on his teeth as he struggled to catch his breath.

               He sat in a window seat with his forearms resting on his thighs – watching Tommy. Nobody moved.  I tried not to let him see me watching.  This kind of situation could go a number of ways.  I wanted to be invisible. We passed the next station. Tommy met his glare.

               “25^thAvenue: Next stop: Bay 50^th Street.” The doors chimed. I heard a click and the music disappeared. 

               “Yo –“The guy said as he got up and hovered over Tommy.  “Give me your walkman.”

               “Excuse me?” said Tommy.

               “Your walkman, whitebread. Hand it over.”  He waved his arm, holding out his thumb, index, and little fingers as he spoke.

               “What did you say to me?”

“Are you deaf— Give me your fuckin' walkman!”

               The train pulled into the station.

               “Oh no!”  Tommy stood up.  Now their faces were inches apart from one another.“Fuck that!”

               Tommy pulled his right hand out from his pocket and punched the guy in the cheek. Something shiny moved in tandem with his fist.  The guy’s head jerked back and swiveled.  A small, white object flew across the car,followed by a spray of blood. It clacked as bounced from a window and landed underneath some seats.

               The subway doors opened.  The guy just stood there, stunned.  His whole face contorted. Its shape changed and he looked broken.

               “Come on,” Tommy waved toward me. 

             The man held his face. Blood dripped from his mouth onto the floor. 

             I ran out of the car.  We watched the doors close in front of him.

“What the fuck was that?” I asked from the safety of the platform.  My heart felt like it beat through my chest.

               “Brass knuckles.”  Tommy shrugged.  “Let’s take the bus home.” 

He flicked another button and the sounds of King Diamond returned.