Every Saturday, my mom would give me 35 cents to take the Annette 4 bus from the stop at the end of my street to Jane and Bloor where I took tap dancing lessons at Doreen Hayes School of Dancing in Toronto's Bloor West Village.
I'm a veteran. I like to believe I'm prepared for anything.
I've heard about the Save-a-Seat phenomenon. I've witnessed it over the years but I've never been a victim - until today.
My bus was late. We had a swing driver unfamiliar with the route who unfortunately missed the turn leading to the GO station and had to backtrack to get back on course. I was engrossed in Episode 9 of American Horror Story on my tablet and wasn't paying attention. Another passenger realized the error after the driver was past the intersection.
I missed the train I usually take and hopped on the one waiting. The coach was 30% full. I took a seat in a quad opposite a woman who had a bag on every seat except for the one I sat in. I didn't look at her. I had my headphones in and had just flipped over my tablet cover when she tapped me on my knee. I pulled out an ear bud and she asked me if I would mind sitting somewhere else. She said she usually saves seats for her friends.
Since it's Christmas and crap, I got up and went upstairs. Although I didn't feel any need to take a shit, I can empathize with the dog in the clip because once I got upstairs, I had a whole mess of dialogue I would have liked to share with Ms. Save-a-Seat.
I was in a bad mood for the rest of the morning.
Seats on a commuter train are first-come/first-serve and on a relatively empty train, I don't like being asked to sit somewhere else. I like being the one in control of where I sit. If I witness you and your friends getting onto a train, or a friend joining you, and I realize it would be nice if y'all could sit together, I'll get up and offer my seat.
The dog says it all.
I'll just continue with my bad day now.
4 comments:
Here's what I believe - all of us have an angry Black woman deep down inside. We each have a right to let her out every once in a while. Although your outlet was the gif image above (which is hella funny), never leave her locked up inside. You'll explode.
I received dirty looks this morning on the 6.26 from Ajax. All because I chose to sit in the 2 seater by the door. The reason: I am heading to the airport right after work and I had my suitcase and carry on and purse with me. I figured that would be the best place where I would discomfit fewer people and not take up aisle-way/door-ways.
But golly, the dirty looks! All because apparently people getting on at a stop after me would normally sit there.
If somebody comes up to me and tells me "hey, that seat is saved" or "that's my seat", I don't move. I ask them "How is this possible? I'm sitting here, it's not your seat, it's mine. I didn't see your name on it when I sat down."
I've gotten seat daver's bitchin at me too, in hamilton on the 7:04 train in the Accessibility car!, I just look at them, & ask if they can see the signs in this car, with a WFEELCHAIR, & if they have legs that work, theres only 5 steps up to a new seat for that day!!
I've faced worse on the 18:32 train that make me want to scream!
people actually snort & bitch when the CSA asks then to move so that I can get on!!!
one donkey even muttered '"go back to your institution & stop trying to steal a seat!'"
YEAH NO!!
My inner BITCH, just came whipping out, I said, loud enough for the WHOLE section to hear, "Gee, looks like someone needs to be spanked today dont it!!
why dont YOU try having to use both a white cane & a wheelchair!! DONKEY!!"
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