Leather Intimidator

Public and private schools in the DC Metro area have all opened. Many kids who attend the DC public school system ride the Metro. I see them on my way home from work. They often complain about not being respected, but they deserve no respect by the way they behave on the train. They yell, run around, use profanity (including cracks about "gays,"), make obscene gestures, eat, and drink -- and get by with it for two reasons: 1) there are no Metro Police on the train car on which they are carrying on their antics (the cops can't be everywhere); and 2) most regular passengers are afraid or intimidated by them. One regular rider on my train is an older woman, who looked like she was very afraid on Monday afternoon when the kids were behaving so abominably.

Yesterday afternoon, I turned the tables. As I was leaving the office, I stepped into the restroom and put on a pair of leather jeans tucked into a pair of tall patrol boots (H-D Police Enforcer Boots), a leather shirt, dark sunglasses, and a cop ball cap. (I had no insignia on my leather shirt; I'm not so stupid as to try to impersonate a law enforcement officer.) I was dressed as a complete leatherman.

I walked to the Metro station near my office, and was not surprised that nobody on the street said anything. I noticed a few people glancing at me, but there were no comments.

I got on the train just as a herd (or should I say a shrewdness of teenaged apes) boarded it. They began their usual routine of running around and acting out. While there were seats available, I chose to stand, holding a rail in the middle of their mob. I just glared at them. I didn't say a thing. But I gave them the hardest, most stern look I possibly could give.

The kids looked up at me and gave me a quizzical look. I continued to glower. Amazingly, the kids settled down. Each took a seat, and began talking with his or her seatmate in normal voices. They put their food and drinks into their backpacks. They actually behaved like calm subway riders.

As the train continued on its route, and more seats became available at each stop along the way, I continued to stand -- as if I were standing guard. A cop in full uniform boarded the train at one stop and got off two stops later. I laughed (to myself) as he gave me a salute upon his exit from the train, and I tipped my cap at him. The kids noticed that (evil grin). The kids remained calm and quiet.

The kids got off the train at the stop before mine. I guess they were on their way to terrorize the local mall which has developed a reputation for large groups of wild kids running around on weekday afternoons.

When the train approached my station, I walked toward the exit door. The old woman who was so afraid yesterday began to clap. Then the rest of the passengers did, too.

The power of leather is amazing. I just might continue to wear leather on my ride home every day... until the kids choose to ride another train or go somewhere else.

The leather and boots felt so good and the coolish, sunny weather was so fantastic that when I got on my Harley at the Metro station, I decided to take off for a nice ride. I rode 50 miles (80km) and still got home in time to prepare a nice dinner for my partner and me.

As leathermen say, "Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr!" It works!