Scene from a Train

A shifty-looking old man shuffled his way onto the train. He hesitated at the empty seat next to me, then a pause later, he blissfully moved on, and sat next to a well-dressed young man instead. He instantly tried to make conversation with the office-bound man, I thought to myself Good thing it's him and not me who's the captive audience! Lo and behold, the young man actually responded, the two started talking in earnest, or rather, the young man talked at the old man, about his life, his education, his current dreams & aspirations... nonstop! At the end of the 30-minute train ride, the old guy was probably sorry he started anything in the first place.