A Conversation with a Unicorn

       Click-click-clank, click-click-clank, click-click-clank. The morning train clambers along its old rusted metal railings. Its passengers idly stare at their phones, newspapers, magazines, books or whatever else they do to pass the time. It’s a cold day in upstate New York right in the middle of February so all the passengers are dressed in their stereotypical black and brown winter attire. Except for one passenger.

Her name is Suzy and she is wearing an oversized bright neon pink Hawaiian shirt with yellow palm trees unbuttoned with a white tank top underneath, tight powder blue shorts, red flip-flops and yellow straw sunhat. She has gorgeous porcelain skin with rosy red cheeks, and wavy shoulder length dirty blonde hair. Her left foot rapidly taps along to the music playing in her ear-buds and her shoulders move up and down as she dances with an ear-to-ear smile plastered on her face.

Suzy’s dancing has caught the eye of another passenger. His name is Richard and he is wearing a very boring cheap two piece grey suit, worn-out brown leather loafers, a starched white dress shirt, all covered with his thrifted oversized black wool pea coat. His skin, while a nice mocha brown color, is pale from exhaustion and lack of sun while his messy black hair is even messier today from rushing to catch his train. He even forgot to grab the book he has been reading during his morning commute, and so now he rides the morning train with nothing to do but let his gaze wander about until Suzy got on the train.

Richard has seen many different types of people on this train, but they all had the same vibe to them. Get up, go to work, work, go home, rinse and repeat. The hum-drum lifestyle of those that have to take an hour long train ride every morning to get to work. Doesn’t leave much time for any variety during the work week. He used to try to stand out and make the most of the train rides like his mom wanted him. She used to tell him to be a unicorn in a field of horses and he fully intended to be a unicorn after college, but eventually he conformed to the societal norm of keep to yourself until your stop comes.

That is until the day Richard saw Suzy. Immediately, he notices the bounce in her step as she boards the train. She greets the first three people she crosses paths with a cheery “Hi! Good morning! Swell day, right?!” And each person barely acknowledges her with a grunt or nod of recognition. But that doesn’t bother Suzy. She keeps on walking down the aisle until she comes to an open seat right across the aisle from Richard’s seat.

They make eye contact and Suzy tilts her head and gives Richard a warm smile as she says “Hello,” but before she can say something else Richard turns away to look out his window. Richard hears Suzy’s response “Okay then…” and the knot in his stomach twists even more.

He can feel his cheeks burning from embarrassment, but what does he have to be embarrassed about? The mere presence of this woman seems to make him uncomfortable, and yet he can’t help but try to steal a glance every now and then.

After the third time of catching him looking at her, Suzy loudly says “Hey! You got something to say to me, pal?”

Richard knows this is directed at him and has no choice but to reply this time. He gathers his courage and his voice comes out a little shaky as he says “I…I just…It’s the middle of winter…and…umm…” And that’s all Richard can get out before his courage slinks back inside him like a frightened turtle.

Suzy looks at this shy, timid, plainly dressed man and feels nothing but sympathy. She remembers when she was that awkward and shy around strangers. She also used to conform to society in order to not stand out and go with the general public flow of life. However, now that she is free she will never go back in her proverbial shell to interact with people. But maybe this one is ready to come out of his shell and join her in the skies of free expression.

Richard recoils into his seat and pretends to be taking something out of his carry-on bag, but Suzy sees right through this charade.

She walks across the aisle and sits herself right in front of Richard as she says “Yes! It is very cold outside. Luckily for us the train cars and buildings these days are heated.” She lets out a lite giggle to try and ease Richard’s tension.

Richard looks up at Suzy. Now that she is closer he can see the honesty, kindness and courage in her bright green eyes. Eyes that can take on any hardship or obstacle the world throws at her. Suzy can see the despair, mistrust and overall jaded attitude towards life in Richards’s dark brown eyes. Eyes that have been beaten into conformity despite the wishes of their owner. With just a look these two strangers have come to a deeper understanding of one another.

Suzy continues “Let’s try this again. Hi! My name is Suzy.” She extends her hand in front of Richard expectantly.

Richard, not looking to make the same mistake twice, gingerly extends his hand towards Suzy’s while saying “R-Richard. Nice to meet you. Sorry about staring so much.”

Suzy tilts her head with a playful smile and says “It’s nice to meet you too, Richard. No need to apologize. I know what I put on today would get me looks, but I simply chose to ignore any judgmental stares.” She laughs, but she sees her words impacted Richard as his shoulders slump and his body slightly turns away from her.

Richard knew that it was a mistake to engage with another person, especially someone dressed so outlandish, but despite feeling this Richard continues the conversation. He looks out the window while saying “I wasn’t judging your attire. I was merely intrigued by the person choosing to wear the clothes.”

There is the opening Suzy was looking for to have a real in-depth conversation with Richard. She leans forward and into Richard’s peripheral vision as she says very matter-of-factly “So in a way you were trying to judge me instead, right?”

This makes Richard pause for a moment. His knee jerk reaction would be to get defensive and start an argument with Suzy, but the way she asked the question makes him hesitate. She didn’t ask the question in a snarky, harsh or otherwise combative tone. Instead her tone was simple, straight-forward, and even a little inquisitive. Perhaps she genuinely wants a lite-hearted debate.

The faintest smile cracks on Richard’s face as he says “I guess you are right. But judging people, particularly strangers, is a human instinct. Plus, not all judging is bad. Take for example competitions with a panel of judges. Participating in those competitions means you are welcoming the judging stares of the panel, and want them to critique your performance or demonstration with a fine-tooth comb.”

Suzy can feel the new vibrant energy radiating from Richard as he engages her with this philosophical topic. It’s like a sheltered, cage-trained bird stepping outside its cage for the first time in a long time.

She responds with a hearty chuckle and then says “Yes, in those cases judging people would be a positive experience. However, you brought up judging strangers is a human instinct. I’d argue that instinct is an overall negative aspect of human nature. Let’s speculate for a minute to test my opinion. What do you think were the initial thoughts of the first five people I passed on the train car after seeing my outfit today?”

Richard doesn’t have to think very hard about that question. He is guilty of these thoughts himself. He only thinks differently of Suzy because he is taking the time to have a conversation with her.

He says with a hint of teasing “Probably something along the lines of ‘such ridiculous attire for this time of year’, or ‘she’s just trying to stand-out’ or even ‘you wouldn’t catch me wearing anything like that in public.’” Richard finishes with a more pronounced smile now in hopes that Suzy understands what he is trying to do.

Suzy sees his flirty smile and sends one right back at him while saying “Haha! I suppose those are all fair judgements when considering the time of year and society’s expectations. I, for one, don’t like to conform to what society expects me to do or wear. This is my life and my story. I’ll be the one to decide everyday what kind of day I want to have, and what outfit speaks to my energy the most. None of that dreary work for the right to work more societal crap. I am the author of my story!”

Richard’s eyes widen a little as he listens to Suzy. He now knows he is looking at a genuine optimist. Someone his age that hasn’t let society’s expectations change them, or wear them down to conformity while also maintaining a positive outlook on their life. She might as well be a unicorn to ever other person on this train car. The label fits her personality and her outward appearance after all. He chuckles a little at this thought

As she finishes her little spiel, Suzy sees Richard’s eyes widen with surprise and admiration. She can tell that her words are having an effect on him. Hopefully, she can create another free thinker today. Then she hears his cute little laugh.

Suzy curiously asks “What’s so funny, Richard? Something I said?”

Richard chortles a little more as he says “Sorry, but your kind is just so rare that I couldn’t help it. Please, don’t take it the wrong way.”

Suzy, now even more curious, inquires further “And what is ‘my kind’, Richard?”

Richard gathers himself and explains “A unicorn, Suzy. You, and others like you, are unicorns. At least that’s what my mom would say if she were still here.” He can’t keep up the flirty, teasing tone anymore now that he has brought up his mom.

Now she is getting to the root of this maladapted man, and she is going to go as far as she can with this new seed of information. Hopefully, it blossoms into a beautifully unique flower.

She takes a pause to think about what she wants to ask next. The wrong question could cause Richard to retreat into his shell again. Finally, she asks “And what are unicorns to you and your mom?”

This is not where Richard thought this conversation would go, but since he is the one that steered it this direction he will see it through to the end. He pushes through the knot in his stomach that appears anytime he talks about his mom and says “My mom was always telling me to be a unicorn in a field of horses. She never liked people that were so desperate to fit in with everyone else, or horses as she called them. Instead, just like you, she preferred to stand-out through self-expression. Her self-expression was her words. She never said anything she didn’t fully intend or mean. Unapologetically herself whenever she spoke. A unicorn.” As he finishes his explanation, Richard catches Suzy’s eyes. They are still sparkling, but instead of the bright cheery look they had earlier they are now empathetic and sorrowful. Not the usual pity he is used to seeing, but someone that is truly trying to empathize with his situation.

Richard’s words touch Suzy’s heart. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to fill in the blanks of Richard’s story. She switches her approach and attitude toward Richard in order to compensate. She says “She sounds like she was a very smart, and wise woman. I like how she put it. Everyone on this train car is a horse, but not us Richard. We are unicorns.”

Suzy sees Richard’s eyes soften even more the second she finishes. The light of hope and freedom spark like the fuse to a large firecracker. It has been a very long time since Richard has been told something positive. No doubt thanks to the drone-like life he has been living working for some heartless corporation.

Richard can feel his eyes starting to puff up from budding tears. He can’t remember the last time he cried in public, let alone in front of a stranger. Yet, he has never felt more seen by Suzy. She somehow knew exactly what to say to him to get him to remember the promise he made his mom the day she died.

His voice is a little shaky but he manages to say “I am not a unicorn. I wanted to be for her, but my mom knew me so well. She told me the day she died ‘Rich, I know you want to be a unicorn for me, but there is nothing wrong with being a horse for a while. There is comfort in belonging. Just promise me one day you’ll find someone that makes you feel like a unicorn.’”  

Suzy let’s Richard finish, and her heart flutters a little bit as she gets a look at the real Richard. The color has returned to his skin and his eyes have a renewed look in them. His shoulders are back and he is sitting up straight looking her directly in the eyes. A far cry from the timid, exhausted, slouched man that walked onto this train a mere twenty minutes ago.

A moment is happening. One of those moments where two souls connect in the most random of circumstances. Yet to all the randomness and chaos the world throws at people, the more they yearn for deep personal connections. That’s what makes these moments so special, and if the two souls can recognize the moment, then they will be connected through the rest of their journeys.

Richard looks back at Suzy. Her smile that earlier would’ve annoyed him now fills his heart with joy and admiration. While he isn’t sure if this is a romantic or platonic connection, he knows that this is a connection worth fighting for, and so he speaks to Suzy with confidence.

He says “You made me feel like a unicorn just now, Suzy. Something I thought I wouldn’t feel for the rest of my life. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!” Richard let’s a single tear drop from his eyes down his cheek.

Suzy reaches her hand to Richard’s face. She wipes away the tear, and Richard smiles the warmest smile she has ever seen. Her soul is resonating with Richard’s. A connection is being made. One that Suzy will not let go anytime soon.

She says “You’re welcome, Rich.” The two connected souls lock hands. “We should continue this conversation over dinner sometime soon.” Suzy reaches into her pocket, pulls out a small notebook, writes her number down, and gives it to Richard.

He says “Hopefully the first of many conversations. I’m glad I rushed to get to work on time today.”

Suzy replies “And I’m glad I had to dress like a tourist in Hawaii for my modeling job today!” The two connected souls burst out laughing. And they laugh until the train comes to their stop.

Never forget the power of a conversation. There could be a unicorn waiting for you.