TTC Scenarios and Characters: Part Three

a lanky, young Black man
taking a secure spot in front of me
clasps his affirming hands together
to utter a silent prayer
the funny thing about him is
he has hopped off and hopped back on
to the packed train
nothing odd… if he has jumped off
at the wrong station.

it is yet another rush hour
when every exhausted mind and body
now descends into a deep appreciation
for the place that they call home.

and just as we’re all settled in
and ready to plunge away
an incident occurs… the classic one,
so we’re told to get off
at College Station in no time.

we worm out, confused and in silence,
a woman points at the sign with
a shocking gasp!
the sign reads: Vaughn. (Southbound)
we’re all heading towards Finch! (Northbound)

some brave ones snake their way through
the tensed crowd: where are they going?
I have no idea.

then a brave female commuter announces,
“Guys, this is going Southbound! We have
to keep moving!”
she’s right, yet a young man cackles.

so, we abide, one step at a time to get over
to the other side, we want to make sure no
one gets trampled, no one gets a nudge,
though we’re like a sardines factory
desperate to stay fresh and alive
despite slaving away all day long.

at one point, I accidentally brushed my arm
against a white lady, and she inimically reacts,
“Ouch!”
of course, I apologize profusely as I’m subtly
being pushed from behind.

a Black man dressed in a construction uniform
wants to get ahead as he pins me against the wall,
so I ask him, “You go right ahead.”
“Huh?” he replies, somewhat flustered.
“You go first, sir,” I calmly say as my
chest pounds.

after a long, winding procession to get
over to the other side, I say a quiet grace
for “spaces”.

the first train pulls up, jammed… not breathing!

silly me, I squeeze myself in as some
young Korean girls also fight their way in,
and I find myself being hammered in that I
blurt out, “I’m getting out! Excuse me!”

oh, thank goodness for oxygen! Wow!
I can breathe! I can breathe!

the next train arrives, not as bad as the
first one, the commuters carry a vibe of
“Well, this feels assured somehow.
We’re finally getting home, folks!”

Yes, we are.
At last.
Home at last.

Biggest appreciation for the day;
getting home after a chaotic delay.