A little boy in a blue t-shirt acts tough, strong, fearless. He clutches a toy truck low at his side and eyes the passengers on the train. His father sees a friend near the front of the car, and moves away to talk to him. The boy breaks free of his mother’s grasp to follow his father, to meet the acquaintance, to get another view of the crowd. He travels up on the toes of his rubber shoes.

The boy studies a few children in the car with a raised eyebrow, an expression his father shares.  Nearby are a boy about his age and twin girls with white skirts and sequins.  His mother calls, “Gel!” Come. In her direction he tosses a tiny dismissive movement, another mannerism lifted from his father.

As the boy scans the crowd, he spots two elderly women with their heads covered. He gasps and…