The Crossing Guard on Eighth

The crossing guard on Eighth is a nice woman about my age, an old maid already, maybe. Always says g’mornin’ in her Brooklyn accent. She chats with the moms and their kids, catching up on gossip. flattering the girls: Don’t you look beautiful today! With her coffee in her hand and her back to the traffic, the cars and trucks are an afterthought. She knows they’ll stop.