This evening I was walking to the train in a bit of a daze, having a conversation but feeling tired and drained. Not only did I stay up entirely too late the night before (reading a book. yes, it was real crazy) but my team got the boot from round one of the playoffs (Hockey) after what was a high-energy fast paced and exciting start. The series began to look more like playoff round-ones of our past coming back to haunt us, and in the end provided the same dismal outcome.
Anyway, weather-wise it was a fairly nice evening and most people were in a celebratory mood because I live in the city of the other team- the winners (boo). I was making it a point not to look in the bar windows I was passing on the way to the train and brushed off the “I’m sorry about your team’s loss” from my companion because it just made me mad to hear it out loud.
I changed the subject as we entered the train station, digging in my purse for my CTA pass, knowing i’d just had it in my hand yesterday. I slowed as I approached the turnstile and balanced on one foot as I rested my bag on my knee to get a better look at where the heck my card was. A train had just pulled in overhead and a stream of people started coming down the stairs and clicking through the turnstile. This guy came out with headphones on, a fade cut to his blonde hair, sunglasses and a backpack strung across his shoulders. I backed up to get out of his path, as I realized I had inched up pretty close as I was rooting around for my freaking card.
He didn’t bob and weave out of my way but instead matched my move to the side, turned and tapped his own CTA card on the turnstile. It turned green, welcoming me; I smiled and said thank-you, though I couldn’t see his eyes and wasn’t sure he could hear me over whatever music he was listening to.
My mood instantly got better. such a small and inconsequential thing to him really meant a lot to me. How such a simple gesture felt so good. My CTA card? I realized as I boarded the train and headed off into the setting sun towards home…was in my pants pocket from yesterday.
Thank you guy; I bet you have great taste in music to match your sweet and surprising manners.