Metro North Gothic — Conductor
signs of life on my morning commute
Female Conductor: “Tickets Please!”
Guy on Metro North: “Damn it, I forgot my monthly today.”
FC: [politely] “You can buy a one-way on your phone.”
GoMR: [annoyed] “You’re gonna wait for me to do that?”
FC: [eye roll, crosses arms, settles into waiting position] “What choice do I have?”
GoMR: [looks at me in disbelief]
Me: [within earshot of FC] “That was unnecessary.”
GoMR: [fumbles with phone, produces electronic ticket after about 60 seconds]
FC: [scans bar code, walks on]
GoMR: “There were so many nicer ways to handle that.”
Me: [grasping for silver lining] “Did you have to pay a surcharge, by going thru the app?”
GoMR: “No, I guess not.”
Me: “So, she was in fact a sweetheart.”
GoMR: [smiling, contrite, faith in humanity restored] “That’s not a bad way to look at it …”
What do you think? Was the guy totally out of line? Was I, by initially siding with him? Do you detect undertones of sexism? Let me know in the comments!
You may also enjoy these stories — they happened along the same train line:
