The pregnant woman and flying briefcase
Our pal Cheryl made a most excellent contribution yesterday after being dared by her lurker friends. OK guys, she lived up to her end of the bargain -- now you have to start contributing your crazy commuter tales!
Here is Cheryl's story, for which she deserves some sort of award:
I was dared to post this. The people who dared me lurk here and said they would start contributing if I confessed. I decided, what the hey, I'm sure the statute of limitations is up by now.
Many, many years ago I was on the Howard Line (that's how long ago it was, it was the Howard Line). It wasn't crowded, but there were some standees. One of them was a pregnant woman.
There was a guy sitting in one of the seats next to the doors that face the aisle. He had his briefcase on the seat next to him. I asked him if he would move his briefcase so the pregnant woman could sit down. (I was standing also, but she really needed a seat).
He refused.
So at the next stop I picked up his briefcase and threw it off the train.
He had to get up and chase after it, the doors closed, and the pregnant woman got her seat.
That is hilarious! Good for you!
Posted by: Erika | August 15, 2005 at 08:40 AM
that is awesome. still, it must've been a while ago because these days i'd imagine you'd get punched first
Posted by: brad | August 15, 2005 at 08:41 AM
I wish more of us (myself included) had the guts to face down the rude and inconsiderate. Unfortunately, if we did, we might get more than a punch in the face from some!
Posted by: Matt | August 15, 2005 at 09:02 AM
i second matt's comments.
these rude people need to be told what's up.
Posted by: jen | August 15, 2005 at 09:27 AM
LMAO! :-)) I've had fantasies of taking some rude jerk's cell phone out of his or her hands and whipping it out the train door to gain some peace and silence.
Posted by: TRM | August 15, 2005 at 10:52 AM
:::applause for Cheryl:::
Posted by: Jenn | August 15, 2005 at 11:21 AM
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Brilliant.
Posted by: Hysan | August 15, 2005 at 12:21 PM
talk about bad karma for that guy.
Posted by: p | August 15, 2005 at 12:50 PM
The trick is to time it right. You have to throw the briefcase out the door so late they don't have enough time to punch you, but not so late that they don't have enough time to follow it out the door.
And you have to make sure to throw it far enough that they can't get back on, but not so far that it goes off the platform. If they see it fly off the platform, and they know they can't just retrieve it, they can stay on the train to beat you up, and report the loss later. The exception would be if it goes off the platform somewhere they can follow it, like down a stairwell, or onto another train waiting across the platform.
If you can send it towards the back of the train, that would be better, too. That way if the train operator sees the guy running, he's running away from the train.
Performed right, it's a thing of beauty, as Karmetic justice often is.
And if you think you're going to get in trouble, just say you thought it was a suspicious package, and you were saving the lives of everyone on the train!
Posted by: Warren | August 15, 2005 at 02:34 PM
It also helps if the briefcase opens up, scatters papers all over the platform.
Posted by: Cheryl | August 15, 2005 at 03:01 PM
Big freakin' deal--the guy wouldn't give up the seat. Too bad you weren't arrested.
Posted by: Steve | August 15, 2005 at 10:43 PM
Steve-- I don't even know how to properly respond to your comment. It made me sigh really loudly if that helps to explain my feelings.
Cheryl-- You're my hero.
Posted by: Kimberli | August 17, 2005 at 10:59 AM
Hey Steve, I guess if that was your wife or sister, you'd have just gladly stood by while some selfish moron obnoxiously keeps her from being able to sit down?
Your picture must accompany the word 'cad' in the dictionary. If a woman ever debases herself enough to consent to marrying you, I hope she's never subjected to carrying your child...
Posted by: jk1 | August 17, 2005 at 02:22 PM