Subway Follies II

Sometimes I try to see how much I can get away with...

I was on my way to a play in Manhattan during rush hour. The 6 train was empty when I got on at Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall. I took out my book and began to read to pass the time. I quickly became engrossed in my reading and the train became crowded as the it traveled farther up the cement island. Before I knew it, there was a large, sweaty man sitting to my left with about 2 ft. between us. "Great, still some room there!" I thought. There were tons of people on the platform at the next stop. As people piled onto the train, a woman sat on my right with about 1 ft between us, "...nice, still breathing room." But not for long...

Standing in front of me was a woman--about the same age as my mother, with as much spunk as myself, and not the trimmest cut on the block. Get what I mean? "Excuse me," she spoke looking down at me. I knew that she wanted me to open up the 1 ft. between myself and the woman to my right for her to sit down. That would've required me close the 2 ft. between myself and the sweaty NYer-type that I try my hardest to avoid. In fact, that's one reason why I drive! Decisions, decisions...

I chose self-preservation! So, without looking up from my intellectually stimulating book, I slid 1 ft. to my right! That opened up a spacious seat for both of us ;) Mine being on the more pleasant side!