:: musings, dreams ::From Beijing to Shanghai…
…A father stood for the entire duration of a thirteen hour train ride, while carrying his twin sons, one in each arm. His bluing veins were a sharp contrast to the pale, latent cheeks. His frail frame seemed hardly able to carry himself and yet, not a single muscle would move to disturb the sleeping twins. I watched from my seat. He stood, with almost no support, among makeshift chairs, newspaper cushions and the other “No-seating” travelers. The air was heavy with humidity and sweat. With each vendor who pushed past and each passenger who needed the restroom, the man adjusted his position - each time his sons pinched harder at his skin to stay close. Peasants played cards, ate sunflower seeds and chattered noisily in their native dialects. Still, the twins slept.
