On the metro yesterday, a young couple (maybe college kids) sat facing me and began to engage in a bit of fairly disruptive “puppy play.” Young folks around here already have a sort of bad rep for playing music/videos or talking too much on public transit, but this was a level above.

The girl would jump up on her boyfriend and put her “paws” on his shoulders and bark, and then he would be like “good girl” and stuff. This went on for a few minutes, then for a moment they seemed to stop, and I thought we were out of the weeds until the girl started a new round. “Woof!”

More like “ruh-roh” as the kids say. It was just reflex: I said “Alright” and made a “settle down” gesture with my hand. I think I was emboldened by my recent success in shushing a full adult on a plane ride last month. These kids on the train reacted in almost the exact same way—with looks of pure bafflement, but then puppy girl did the “calm down” gesture herself, and explained to her boyfriend, in the manner of a precocious child seeking approval, “That means calm down.” Smart puppy.

And they did! Sort of. No more audible barking, but she kept jumping on him. I wonder how long they went on for after I got off.

I think this might have to be my new thing—just not giving a fuck and telling people when they need to rein it in. Life is too short, and I am already spending too damn much of it commuting.