A Brass Landmark

I stepped past the sliding entrance door and walked out toward the busy street corner, following the lines on my pocket map. Finding a steady path up the side of a painted green kiosk, I reached its flat wooden ledge just above the sidewalk. Resting right against the weathered timber was a heavy brass subway token, scratched and dulled from years in pockets. I crouched down and traced the raised lettering around the rim with my thumb. It was solid and cool under my hand. I slipped the token into my pocket beside the map, nodding slowly as the city traffic hummed along the avenue.