Friday, June 4, 2010

For once, I wish I did not have my headphones on

Yesterday, around 3:30PM, I took the 1 train home from campus. It was quite crowded for an afternoon train. The train was a hot one (meaning the AC was either broken or weak). After stepping on I shuffle my way to the door opposite of where I entered. I usually take this spot when there is no seat available. It was pretty uneventful until I hit 86th st. The door closed and I saw this old man with a crane outside who had just ran to the door. The door reopened and he stepped in. If it was any other person, there is no way the door would have opened again especially during semi-rush hour. Anyway, it was an old asian looking man with sunspots and a crane. I didn't like the way he looked. He looked arrogant and then right as the train started moving, I saw him look at the two seats right next to the door where he just entered. It was occupied with one mom with a baby in front and a child maybe 2 years old in the other seat. I saw him mutter something to the girl. I had my headphones on and so I couldn't hear a thing he was saying but from what I can see, I don't like it. It seems as if he was telling them he had a right to sit there because he's old. My instinct came in and I glared at him. My first thoughts were who is this old man thinking he is?! Sure, if you are senile people should offer you a seat but in no way does that justify you claiming a seat especially in a hot train with a bunch of people. Not only that, the mom and the child had every right to that seat if not more right than the old man. I would bet a good amount of money that the old man never really cared about his family. Otherwise, he would be sympathetic, maybe that's why he's all by himself with no family to take care of him. Then this other person across from the mom and child's seat offered him a seat and then he proceed to talk directly to the mom about something. Again, I couldn't hear because I still had my headphones on. This time I really wish I didn't have them on. He then proceed to mutter something twice and then decides to sit down. Then I simply got angry and gave him dirty looks all over thinking man what a disgrace to the asian race. I simply dislike old asian people especially chinese who thinks they have a right to everything simply because they are old (make us look so bad). I wanted to yell at him or have him simply repeat what he said because by now I took off my headphones and intently trying to calm my fury. I try to smile at the kids and the mom but they were simply hidden from my view by all the people in the train. Then at 66th st, the mom and the kid got off and then my fury subsided a little (the heat definitely did not help) and I started to feel bad for him. He probably has no friends, he probably has no family and he probably does not know what he is doing is wrong. Maybe because he has no friends to tell him to warn him that his behavior is arrogant. Then I thought who am I to judge, maybe he what he muttered was nothing of that sort since I did not hear it. For once, I really wish I did not have my headphones on... or maybe God planned it so that I won't get too heated and end up fuming and yelling at the old man or something. Then, finally the train approached 50th st which is my station and I saw the man getting up towards the exit as well. Normally, if it was any other person I would have let him go first... no not this time, my full blown new york type A personality came out and I stepped up to the door in front of him (no I did not cut him off... my fury was still fuming but I had saddness for the man... or maybe I did... it depends on how you define cutting someone off). I sped off the train hoping that no one would associate me with him.