The subway train slowed to a halt, and the doors opened.  I was a little hesitant about entering—I mean, I didn’t really know where I was going, but I was sort of pushed in, so suddenly I was in the car, and the doors closed behind me.  That’s when the train got going.

I held on tight to the bar above me as the train went its course.  The car I was in was shaking and rattling, but they never are smooth for me.  I looked around for a map, some clue as to where I was going.  I didn’t see anything.  There were, however, two gentlemen sitting close to me, so I walked up to them.

They were speaking to each other, some sort of friendly debate.  I hoped they wouldn’t mind my intrusion.  ‘Excuse me,’ I said.  They looked up at me.  ‘Do you fellows know which stations are coming up?’  ‘Well,’ said one gentleman, ‘I know that one of the stations coming up is Paradise Station.  I know that’s where I’m going.’  ‘Oh,’ I said.  ‘And what about you, sir?’ I asked the other.

‘I don’t know what stops are coming, or when my stop is,’ he said.  ‘I think I’m going until the end of the line.’  ‘And then what?’ I asked.  He shrugged his shoulders.  ‘Well, do you guys know whether there’s a map or station list somewhere?  I’m just worried because if I miss my transfer I’ll have to wait forty-nine days.’

‘There aren’t any maps in here,’ said the first gentleman.  ‘I think that’s the way it’s supposed to be.’  ‘Well thank you both anyway,’ I said.  Three stops later, I got off; but I didn’t really want to.  I guess nobody really does.  I stood on the platform a bit as the subway pulled away, going on without me.  I watched it until it was nothing more than a light at the end of a long tunnel.  And then the light blinked out.
 
 

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