OurStory

Christian Marquez had just finished his first-ever Happy Meal, at a New York City McDonald's. His mom, Marlena, had Christian by the hand as she was throwing out a juice container. But Christian suddenly let go of her hand. The precocious three-year old had apparently made other plans for his leisure time -- it seems he wanted to go for a train ride! So, somehow, Christian slipped out of the restaurant unnoticed (although security cameras later confirmed he left, calmly, on his own) and, again somehow, made his way to the closest subway station. Perhaps ducking under a turnstile, Christian then "rode the rails" for some 13 minutes, traveling four stops from Flushing to Jackson Heights. It was about then that a "Good Samaritan" transit worker, Adam Frasse, alerted to the boy's disappearance and noticing Christian riding alone in the last car, took care of him, called 911, got the train stopped. and brought Christian to a token booth where he was soon reunited with his desperate mom. The "twos" might be terrible. But the "threes" can be thrilling!