"We apologize for the delay." A cold electronic voice says over the speaker system. It doesn't really bother me, but it does make my accomplishment of barely catching the train a little less impressive. I'm on the train right now from Chicago that goes to all of the suburban towns surrounding it. Suburbia grows off the edges of the city like an infection, growing from it, feeding from it, needing it. Three college students sit nearby and I can tell right away that they are much better off then I am. They discuss all of the different nice and expensive restaurants that have dress codes and things pertaining to having rich parents.
"... Then your kids are going to end up going to public schools ten years down the road..." I hear the only American (A Man) among them say. The other man is Brazilian and the Only Woman is Chinese, both with thick accents. This fools me for a moment, and then I assure myself that they are in fact probably more intelligent than I am. At least more educated. I'm beginning to nod, due to the activities from the night prior, when I hear someone ask them "What year are you guys?"
"Second." They reply
Being the same age as me, they've had the same amount of time to get their shit together as I have had. I wonder who's happier. Them or I. The guy sitting in his sweaty undershirt, on the train, scribbling in his notebook.