[un]just used

I was late already and I knew that the 1 train was not running because it is the weekend, but still I was late and rather than take the shuttle bus that is supposed to be a replacement for the 1 train (but that I consider simply a cake instead of bread type option), I decided to walk to the A train stop at 211^th street (the 207^th street stop). It isn’t too far away and the streets seem to skip numbers up here. As it turned out, the shuttle bus was there waiting for me at 225^th and broadway, so I demeaned myself and ran towards it. My shoelace was untied and I took my metrocard out of my wallet only to see that the ride was free – a piece of paper blocking the metrocard entry point. I tied my shoe on the bus and the bus left with some seats open and nobody standing. Next stop, 215^th street, where nobody got on. Finally, after only a couple of pain free minutes, we were at 211^th street and I got off and rushed down the stairs into the station so as to beat the rush of people who I imagined might be taking my spot, or getting in my way, or slowing me down, or other such crimes. When I swiped my card, however, I was told to swipe again at this turnstyle. Then, I was told to swipe again at this turnstyle again – and again until the next time when the screen told me that I had just used my card. This meant another 18 minutes until I could use it again to get on the subway. This would not do. I was already late. Not to mention – I hadn’t just used my card. Since everyone has been fired, there was no clerk to complain to. Everything was made of metal and porcelain, so I had nothing to punch, and as it turned out, the automated metro card machines were broken (an orange cone stood in front of them), so there was basically no way I could get in. I couldn’t even hop because there were no turnstyles, really – just revolving gates. I really was late, so there was no time to scream and call for revolution at the moment. The woman behind me commiserated with me, stating that it was weird what had happened. She had seen the whole thing transpire. She got in just fine.

So, I ran, or trotted down to 207^th street to try to get in that entrance. I was upset and had decided that I would hop if necessary. I wound up following a woman with a stroller in through the buzz-in gate. The A train was waiting there and I got on the 4^th car and sat there for 2-3 minutes before it left. To my surprise, given that it is the weekend, the A ran express. I was pleased, but remembered not to be pleased – that it was supposed to be running express. It is my theory that the MTA these days is going for the type of credit that Chris Rock decries: trying to get credit for things you are supposed to do. I remembered to not give that credit so easily and wore a scowl. By the time I got off the train at 125^th, there was three strollers on the train – one a high one so that the head of the baby was taller than the head of the mother when they were both seated.