A Green Line train was at the station as I came out of the door, giving me about two seconds to either get on the train or wait for the next one. Since Green was one of two lines that would take me home, I skipped into the train as the doors began closing, providing a quick jolt of adrenaline and prompting a satisfied grin.
That brief pleasure was immediately trumped by dread since in my haste to jump on the train I forgot that I was on the north side of Lake Street, meaning this train was heading to the West Side, which was not where the fuck I wanted to go.
After changing to the other side of the tracks and catching the next inbound train, I sat down just as the conductor blurted the announcement that the doors were closing. It wasn’t a regular recorded announcement, but one that the driver has to say at each station, saying it with more displeasure each time.
“That’s that new shit they have to say, hear that?” the guy sitting in front of me said.
“Yeah, what because of that lady and the baby?” I said after realizing he was talking to me.
We went on to talk over the story of the mother who said her baby was sent flying off a platform when the stroller was caught in a closing door. There was a lot of stuff in the news about how the story might have been screwy, but we weren’t sure. But, the CTA was in the midst of figuring out this nightmare, and the announcements were a quick response.
“My name’s Sincere,” he said, offering his right hand to mine.
“I’m Sean, nice to meet you Sincere.”
He was out job hunting this morning, having just meet with a job placement agency. Said he had to be there super early and whatnot and got one lead out of it, but the interview wasn’t for another few days. He thought the interview would be today, but the lady said no.
“You heard of this?” he said, showing me the appointment card that had Hudson News listed as company looking to hire.
“Um yeah, that’s the place at the airport that sells magazines and overpriced snacks and candy. Maybe they have other locations, but I know they are at the airport for sure.”
We were almost to my stop and I started drifting off to my work day. Sincere was still talking about needing to get work, asking me a few more questions about Hudson News. I wondered if it would be weird working at the airport, being around a bunch of people all in a rush to go who knows where all day long, when all you have to look forward to is work.
As I got up to get off the train, we shook hands again, wishing each other well. Stepping onto the platform at Roosevelt under the flutter of two dozen pigeons, I glanced down the road at the aquarium and then looked back at Sincere, waving to him even though he wasn’t looking.
