CTA Tattler

From the Lost and Found Dept.

I left work a little early yesterday. I heard a train pulling out and saw the passengers streaming out the exits as I punched my Smart Card at the recalcitrant pad in the front of the turnstile. (Don’t get me started on how Smart that Card really is.)

Much to my surprise, another train was just a minute or so behind, so I boarded a fairly empty car. When I entered I spied a little pile of papers and used transit cards on one of the seats facing each other by the doors. Just more trash abandoned by yet another inconsiderate passenger, I thought.

Thirty minutes later, I got up to leave at my stop, and I impulsively bent down and picked up the two used transit cards and the neatly folded paper beneath it.

In all CAPS, the single sheet announced:

CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICE DEPARTMENT

COURT 701 * BRANCH 60

You must present yourself between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. in person within 72 hours (3 days) of your court date with a copy of your court order and order of protection (if one has been issued to you) at: blah blah, (26th and California).

One transit card was empty; another had 25 cents on it with two transfers good for another 20 minutes.

I kept the transit card with a quarter on it.

And wondered about the circumstances of the poor person who needed the order of protection.