Creatures in Your Neighborhood

So today I was sitting on a bench at the 157th Street subway platform. It was deserted. I took a seat and started looking at my e-mails on my blackberry. Suddenly I noticed some movement out of the corner of my eye. A rat, of soft gray palor and maybe a foot long, was darting along the edge of the platform. He came within a few feet of me and reared up on his hind legs, sniffing inquisitively. While initially shocked to see a large rodent running so carefree in this urban jungle, I stared back at him with calm curiosity. He seemed satisfied that I wasn't a food item and dashed on.

Tough town.