I’ve mentioned, on numerous occasions, how I’ve witnessed teens on the bus and trains.

How some wear their “costumes,” or “uniforms” of the urban Goth, with dark oversized clothing, hoodies up, faces obscured. Their posture that of the melancholy thinker, or one who has given up on all elements of social etiquette.

And yet, when an elderly or handicapped person enters the conveyance they give up their seat with out a word. And they go one better — they remain silent and disconnected as if hearing a thank you from the grateful passenger was an annoyance.

But today was different.

Four older teens entered the bus with an air of super charged intensity.  As they discussed their plans for the evening, they used the “F,” “N,” and “B” words like rapid-fire bullets. Once or twice they referred to a certain action they favored with a female partner.

All of this was within four feet of a mother and her 5-year-old daughter. After a few minutes of this, the mother moved away from the boys, though not far enough to escape the litany of colorful terms.

At this time I did something we New Yorkers tend to avoid … I approached one of the boys, quietly and politely, and asked if he thought the language they used in front of the little girl might not have been offensive and disrespectful to her.

I fully expected a feisty or somewhat aggressive response. After all who was I to them?

To my amazement the boy apologized instantly.  One of his friends, realizing what they had done, got up, went to the mother and child and apologized. She looked more surprised than I did.

This was followed by all of the boys politely and earnestly apologizing to the mother and child, and thanking me for pointing it out.

Yes, it could have gone sour, or escalated into something dangerous. But it didn’t.

For me, the message is clear …

Sketch by Alex Simmons

A child’s capacity to do good is the same as their capacity to go wrong.  And our intervention in their journey may simply be the reminder they need as to which path they truly wish to travel.