After about twenty minutes or so, he began to forget himself a little. His rocking grew more energetic, and his mutter became an audible chant. To my horror, I realized the boy was repeating the words "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" over and over and over. After another twenty minutes, the train pulled into the city, and the child was still chanting.
As we disembarked the train, I continued to watch the boy, now completely fascinated. He seemed unfettered by the responsibility of behaving himself now that he was outside, and proceeded to do an odd twirling dance. He arched his body forward and then expansively backward, all the while skipping in a circle and flapping his arms hugely. His chant rose to a jubilant, triumphant shout, and he shortened it to suit the energy of the dance crying "LIFESTYLES! LIFESTYLES! LIFESTYLES! LIFESTYLES!"
His mother shoo'd him back from the edge of the platform, but did not otherwise seem mindful of her son's bizarre behavior. She noticed me looking at him, though, so I smiled at her and said "Cute kid!"
"Thank you!" she replied, and beamed affectionately at her television besotted dervish.
--Morrisa
I wonder if I'd have been this shaken by this scene had
the child been doing a "Mystery Science Theater 3000"
dance instead...
Her life's aim'ns or mad rants?
