Everyone Needs a Hype Person

Everyone needs a hype person.

I was on the subway. On my way into the city to have tea with a friend.

I'm on this subway car, kind of standing in the middle, and this woman is standing near the door.

She keeps calling out, “All right, about six more stops,” like she's talking to a huge group of elementary school kids or something.

Whoever she's talking to is behind me, and I can't see them. And, I don't turn to look. I'm good.

“Just a couple more stops, alright? You getting ready? You getting ready?”

I still have no idea who she's talking to, but, she's definitely intense, and she's into whatever it is that they're preparing for.

She is wearing these black pants and a black top, but she pulls out a white t-shirt, turns it right-side out, puts it on, tucks it in, and puts on a black blazer.

Apparently, this subway car is also her dressing room.

Next thing I know, she leans in.

“You ready?”

“I'm ready.”

“You ready?”

“I'm ready.”

“You ready?”

“I'm ready.”

It sounds like one voice coming from behind me. I turn my head just a little bit, and I see this girl who's probably in her late teens/early twenties. She's sitting down, has a speaker under her right arm, and is scrolling on her phone. Texting on her phone. I don't know. I can't see it.

She's responding. But, very half-heartedly.

“You ready?"

“I'm ready.”

“You ready?”

“I'm ready."

“All right.

You're gonna get this.

Alright?

You're gonna go in.

You're gonna eff it up.

You're gonna eff it up.

You're gonna eff it up.

You're gonna eff it up.

You're gonna eff it up.

You're gonna eff it up.”

She keeps going. Just when I think she's said it as many times as someone could possibly say it, she just keeps going.

She is the ultimate hype person.

I'm ready to go. I'm ready to get in there and tear it up. I'm gonna eff it up.

Inside, I’m like, “Mm, mm-mm, mm-mmm.” My body is swaying inside and probably moving only a little bit outside, but I'm getting all hyped up.

"Alright, one more stop.”

The girl gets up and joins this woman near the door.

The woman looks around and apologizes, “I'm sorry for being so loud.”

She looks at me, and I shake my head and I said, “I'm into it.”

I looked at the girl, and I said, “Kill it. Whatever it is. Go, kill it.”

The woman says, “Everybody needs a little hype, right?”

I said, “Absolutely.”

She gives me a high five. The doors open. They leave. The doors closed behind them.

And, I'm jazzed! I'm ready to go. And, all I'm doing is going to have tea with my friend.

I got one more stop.

Get off the train.

The whole way to the tea shop.

Mm-mmm. I’m gonna get it. Gonna get it. And, mmm. I'm gonna kill it. Gonna kill it. Oh, I got this.

Her hype wasn't even meant for me, and yet, I am jazzed and raring to go!

Everyone needs a hype person.