Being Invisible

Invisible Man
Originally uploaded by Snak Shak

Several times, I have noticed a person on the 133 bus route who is entirely covered from head to toe. He wears a long green wool trench coat, a full-face balaclava and gloves. This is finished off with a pair of ski goggles (mirrored goggles, no less). Not even a nose pokes out, and I have never seen him remove a single article of this ensemble. What's more, he does not speak to other passengers, or even read, while riding the bus. He sits silently until his stop, then pulls the cord and shuffles off the bus.

I am afraid that there is some tragic story behind this - burns, or a skin problem, perhaps extreme light sensitivity or something... who knows? The other passengers don't really acknowledge him, but they are not uncomfortable despite the silent presence of this mysterious person.

I prefer to think that this person has discovered the true secret of invisibility. On days when he feels like being invisible, he dons his balaclava and goggles and gets on the bus, riding silently to his destination. On other days when he is feeling like being part of the world, he wears a jacket and stocking cap just like the rest of us shlubs on the bus, but we have no idea that he is the man behind the mask because we've never seen him take off the layers.

I hope that's the case and that he's laughing his ass off at all of us for not figuring this out.