My Train's Musical Chair Game

Just to start off, i don't actually know the names of anyone on my train or my water taxi.  I don't want to keep telling these stories that say, "This girl" or "That guy", so i am going to start naming people in my life.  Now you ask, why would I need names for people unless I know them, well in a commuter's life, you live a whole secondary life.  No one knows you, yet you all know each other.  Kind of creepy really.  So, the people on my train are always the same.  The people on my water taxi, again, all the same.  I have invented lifestyles and families for most of them.  Yes, you may think that is stupid, but I figure if I am going to spend 15 hours with them a week, I should know more about them.  And instead of getting really odd looks and being classified as creepy myself, I make it up rather than turning to the woman next to me and asking, "so, tell me more about your family..."

So back to my day.  I get on the train at the first stop.  I have my pick of cars and rows.  I sit in the absolute last car in the last row.  This way, I can make my water taxi with about 1 minute to spare.  Otherwise it adds 10 minutes to my day and most of you know I don't work much as it is... I digress.  So there is a young woman who sits in the same row, opposite side.  I've named her Jenny.  She seems nice and she is very quiet.  Plus, I don't know too many Jennys so no one can complain.  This is where it gets interesting.  There is this guy, Leon, perfect name by the way, and he gets on at the second spot.  The really humorous thing is you can see him staking his ground as the train approaches.  Given the number of people that get on at the second spot, he must get there very early to ensure that he is standing at the exact location that the train doors will open.  A true talent I might add.

So he bounds up the stairs, as much as a middle aged, slightly overweight, oddly dressed man can bound.  And sits next to Jenny every day.  And if any of you have read the previous posts, you now know train etiquette.  What don't you do???  You never fill a two person seat until all rows have at least one person in them.  But NOOOO, Leon always sits next to Jenny in the last row.  Now, Jenny is single and it creeps her out a little.  Leon, well, he has been married a few times and truly believes he is the lady's man that he sees himself as.  Again, I don't know anything about these people for real, but I am pretty sure I am not far off...

So today, I get on the train, and Jenny moves up a couple of rows.  Now, this never happens.  When you stake out a seat and claim it for multiple weeks, you don't have the option of changing seats, UNLESS, there is a bum or someone has urinated on the seat.  Those two reasons are some of the only ways you can claim another seat.  You see, what happens is when you change seats, the person who, much in a zombie like state, is going to stumble to their predestined seating location is all of the sudden going to be out of sorts.  Just like the visa commercial where someone pays with cash, you will throw the equilibrium of the ENTIRE train off.  It starts a chain reaction that is hard to contain.  Now that you understand the enormity of the situation, you could see my predicament.  There was a reason why she was changing seats and I didn't know what to do.  Do I tell her to quickly get back to her seat before she sets off imbalances in the universe, or do I just let fate take its toll.  I chose numb inaction as the best form of action. 

Leon got on the train at the next spot.  He looked like a frightened puppy dog in a corner.  He glanced sped back and forth, aisle by aisle.  Where was Jenny.  Just then I realized that she was trying to get away from him.  She put her head down and tried to pretend not to be there.  Much like my daughter Maddie thinks that when her eyes are closed that no one can see her, Jenny wished she could be anywhere but there.  Sure enough, he locked onto her with a stalking stare, like "how dare you try not to sit next to me, don't you know you are locked into the seat you have chosen."  I honesty think that Leon felt that Jenny was cheating and not playing by the rules.  Very strange how he sought her out so feverishly.  Anyway, I can guarantee you this was the last time I saw Jenny on this train or in this car.

I felt really bad.  This guy is really creepy, and she can't seem to shake him.  As we got off the train I suggested another train car or train altogether.  I found it quite amusing during the ride.  I felt bad afterwards.  I hope Jenny can forge another bond with an alternative train car.  It was a good 4 weeks and I wish her well.  

Until tomorrow...