Uptown 1 Train - Compulsion

The train was already crowded when it pulled into Times Square and I wasn't quite willing to give up my much coveted seat just yet. Dozens of commuters got on, jostled around and settled down. As the train pulled out of the station, the woman standing in front of me pulls out what I initially thought was an old hard bound dictionary. She props the book open on her hip while leaning against the pole for additional support. She looked quite uncomfortable so I gave her my seat.

When she sat down, I commented on the size of the book she was reading. The book was the complete works of Shakespeare. She explained she was going to watch The Tempest next week and decided to re-read it again. This was the only copy she had in her collection. I asked her if she had much more to read. "Oh, I finished that the other day. Now I'm reading the rest of his work before I watch the play."

She packed the massive book away as we pulled into Lincoln Center station. She offered me my seat back and hauled the book off the train.