JSM Story Slices Vol. 2

7:30 Train

I boarded the 7:30 train. When the doors opened, the train was chock-full, and only a handful stepped out. I looked for a seat. The few that were open were quickly taken by those standing. I settled with grabbing a pole.

"Hey! Dude! Quit shoving!"

Two guys were having an altercation.

"You elbowed me--the nerve!--when the passengers boarded." He fixed his cap. "Admit it!"

"Yeah? So what if I did?"

"Oh, the nerve! You know, that's a jerk move you pulled!"

"Yeah? What are you gonna do 'bout it, punk?"

"The nerve!"

The train lurched, and the dudes collided in the car.

"Hey! Did it again, man! With the elbow!"

"Like this?" I watched an intentional elbow-dig.

"Exactly like that! The heck, dude!"

"I ain't admittin' to nothin'."

The accusing passenger held out his skinny hand. "But you dug me in the ribs to demonstrate. You're saying the other times were accidental?"

A grunt.

"You know, you pull one more stunt like that, man, I'll have to--"

The train lurched erratically and I fell into the two guys.

"For crying out loud!"

I pulled myself off with the pole. "I'm sorry!"

"Lady, would you or wouldn't you say while you clumsily collided with us, this guy here took the opportunity to dig me in the ribs?"

"I ain't done nothin'."

The former felt his coat. "I-I lost a button! Well, that's fantastic."

"Oh, I think I see it." I stooped to the corrugated floor.

"You know, too bad the other passengers aren't as polite as you."

"Aha!" as I reached past the man in the cap's shoes, the train jostled and he seized the opening to pummel his foot on his supposed aggressor's sneakers.

I climbed upright, gaping. "You just stepped on his feet!"

"What? Me? Never! He's the one shoving!"

"Uh, you know, I saw you stomp on his feet, and--the nerve--with an extreme downward force."

"Huh. Of all lies." He glanced out of the side of his eyes. "Don't see him complaining, though, do you?" The train screeched to a halt. "For crying out loud! My ribs!"

"Oh, boo, hoo." Passengers exited and knocked me sideways. "The button!"

"You lost my button? You jerk! You know, I bet that was intentional!"

A seat opened up and the same guy abruptly lunged for all his worth toward it. "Ahaha!" He was prepared to gloat when the train stopped and declared the stop. "Oh, no, that's mine!"

As the man in the cap struggled to push past the flood of people, I easily got off, looked back, and saw the man accused of elbowing him had conveniently blocked his exit. "Looks like it's you an' me, again, punk."

I heard his nervous laughter wither as the doors shut on the both of them.