It’s the day before Thanksgiving, maybe 5pm. The N-Judah has not made an appearance at Church and Duboce for at least a half hour. I know this not because I’ve been waiting that long but because I hear at least two people tell their cellphones that such is the case. It comes two minutes later, packed to the gills (how else do those things breathe when they go into the tunnels?). My nose is too close to someone’s armpit. Thanks, Heaven, for the generous helping of Old Spice that he had applied (recently, I think). I’m holding on to a pole with my right hand and there’s no way to stand without fully leaning on the guy standing next to me. Unavoidable.
We stop at Duboce Park and no one gets off.
We’re making our way through the tunnel to Cole Valley. The muni driver, who has been graciously announcing each stop’s possible transfer choices, names the 37 and the 43. And then she goes on to say, “Cole and Carl, my absolute favorite stop.” And with such feeling! I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Especially because I knew, as well as she did, how much the train was about to empty. I wondered if that’s why it was her absolute favorite spot or it’s because she really likes the sandwiches at Say Cheese.
I was the only one laughing.
