Loose squares, loose squares!” rang through the aisle.

“Boy, if you don’t bring yourself back over here,” said a middle-aged woman with long twists flowing from her roots. The wide-eyed little boy tried to run farther down the el car when a teenager in a puffy jacket slightly stuck his Js out in front of the toddler and said “Hey little man” with a smile.

Read the full story in the Chicago Reader.