After work yesterday, I was riding the green line express to Grand Central, hanging out in the middle of the car like a civilized adult, reading a magazine and trying not to think about the new cupcake milkshake at Burger King. I wasn't really paying attention to where I was, but a lot of people were getting off at a particular stop, so I assumed it was Grand Central and turned to exit myself. I was too busy making sure I was out the door before the woman who had been seated in front of me but was now saying "getting off!" over and over to notice that it was actually the stop before Grand Central.
Of course I had to act nonchalant about it, as if I had intended to get off there, and when I saw that there were way too many people waiting to get on for me to ever make it back into the car, I just casually walked to the other side of the platform like I was waiting for the local train. I didn't look back to see if perhaps I could run down a few cars and squeeze in a less-crowded one. I didn't turn around and wistfully watch the train pull away with the happy faces of all the express-riding passengers staring back at me.
No, I patiently waited for the local, and when it came, I strutted on with my head held high and rudely blocked the doorway to make myself feel better.
– Katie Ett, unapologeticallymundane.com
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