Gallant CTA Prince Charming helps his Cinderella -- well kinda like that
The following reader Tattler Tale ranks right up there with my Top 10 favorites. Carrie reports:
Heartwarming story from this morning: As I was boarding a 2-car purple line train at Howard, a man getting on behind me accidentially stepped on my shoe, which slipped off my foot and fell down between the car and platform.
I stood there in shock as the man apologized. I muttered "it's okay" and hobbled off, with one bare foot, to find a CTA person to help fetch my shoe after the train pulled out.
I found a friendly CTA guy in the little booth and he accompanied me back to the train, which is still standing in the station.
To my surprise, he asked the conductor to pull forward so he could try to get my shoe before the train left, so I could still catch it! The conductor pulled ahead, he climbed down, and fetched it.
But just as he was about to hand me my shoe, he suddenly pulled it back, only to present it again with a flourish, Cinderella-style, for me to slip my foot into it!
I laughed, thanked him again and again, and hurried off to catch the train, which was still waiting for me! After years of riding the CTA, with plenty of horror stories of my own, it was great to have a very sweet, funny experience with an extremely helpful CTA staff member.
Be still, my heart.
Posted by: Still Born | July 26, 2007 at 09:25 AM
Yet another reason not to wear flip-flops in public.
Posted by: E | July 26, 2007 at 10:41 AM
What makes you think she was wearing flip-flops? Or...are you just making a knee-jerk assumption?
Posted by: painhertz | July 26, 2007 at 10:51 AM
I've had a similar experience with one of the supervisors at the Howard platform. I accidentally left my bag on a 147 express and asked him if there was any hope to seeing it again. Fortunately I remembered the bus number and he quickly called the North Park Garage Supervisor from the platform, found out what driver it was and arranged with a manager there to grab my bag when the bus came in as it was at the end of its run. Sure enough about 10 minutes later I get a call and they have my bag.
Maybe this was the same guy... :) But I must admit after some conversation here and there, they certainly have some great Supervisors floating around.
Posted by: Alex | July 26, 2007 at 11:27 AM
This is such a great story. There really are some nice CTA workers who don't get nearly enough credit. It's so much easier to complain. Heaven knows I'm totally guilty of it.
Posted by: Kimberli | July 26, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Off the subject here, but interesting idea regarding funding:
http://www.nysun.com/article/59236
Posted by: Fool for the CTA | July 26, 2007 at 12:49 PM
That just gives me warm fuzzies. Thanks for telling that. It gives me hope that there are people out there who will go out of their ways for their fellow man and woman-kind.
Posted by: nellnee | July 26, 2007 at 03:31 PM
Highly doubt a Securitas employee would have even gotten off their cell phone to talk to you.
Posted by: wilsonexpress | July 26, 2007 at 04:19 PM
I do hope that this story reaches the workers' supervisor(s) as they all deserve a pat on the back for a job well done.
Posted by: Maureen | July 26, 2007 at 05:44 PM
I notice this blog only talks about the North Side and Loop. Very few, if any, stories about the west or south sides.
Posted by: Mat | July 26, 2007 at 10:55 PM
Mat, this is a personal blog, not a news agency. You're welcome to start one covering your west and south side travels. And there *have* been stories and submissions that include those parts of Chicago and the metro area.
Posted by: deepkid | July 27, 2007 at 05:33 AM
Here's a story about the south side: Once, at Bronzeville IIT, I got off the train and a man kindly offered to rape me. When I declined, he asked if I'd like to date him.
I win.
Posted by: Still Born | July 27, 2007 at 09:02 AM
It's very cool that he did all that to retrieve the shoe -- but frankly the whole Cinderella thing is a little creepy.
Posted by: Bob S. | July 27, 2007 at 09:08 AM
Ok, Deepkid. You won. You've managed to drive a reader away with your selfish, holier than thou attitude. Good luck in life. Hope you manage to show all those people you're around how great you are.
Posted by: Mat | July 28, 2007 at 04:45 PM