Really...I did...
I was on my way to class when I realized (1) I was running late (I thought) and (2) I didn't have enough money on my metro card and all I had was a credit card. Dammit, fewer machines to choose from. I happened to catch the station just when a bus full of travelers came in...There is a shuttle from the airport directly to where I metro from. Dammit, stupid lines of people. I have 2 machines to choose from and one line is horrendous...so I go to the other one... Dammit, it's the line of people that don't know what they are doing. Ok, I can be patient...I don't really care about class that much anyway...
Dobee dobee do... waiting... waiting... waiting ... K...almost my turn...
The lady in front of me is this little old woman that apparently can't speak or read English. But she has a smartcard... weird... Anyway, I am patient... she must sort of know how this works if she has a smartcard.
Dobee dobee do... waiting... waiting... waiting ... K... this lady is clueless...
She is getting frustrated and more frantic as she is pushing buttons and trying to shove money in the machine. She steps aside mid-transaction, desperately looking at the next machine, trying to find some way to do this. It's almost like she used to know but just can't remember.
I feel bad for her so I try to help...
I lean forward, cancel the screen she is staring at, and start her over. I swipe her card, push a button...meanwhile she is frantically trying to shove the money in still... the machine takes the money, I swipe her card, and she’s good to go.
Or not...
She stands there staring at the screen. I put my hand on her shoulder and tell her its ok, it’s all done. And then I get the look... Oh shit...what did I do? She puts her hands to her face and then holding up two fingers says, "2 dollar" and points to herself. Uhhh...shit... You can't get money off of a smartcard once it’s on there. Uhhh...shit shit shit... She wanders away mumbling to herself and holding her head in her hands. I look to the guy behind me and he looks at me like, "you're holding up the line."
So, I get my card and I go to class. I saw her standing at the other smartcard machine when I went through the gate thingy (whatever that is called for real). I felt terrible! What if that was money for her kids to eat tonight? Ugh...I tried, man...
Do I at least get the good karma for trying?
All I tried to be was a Good Samaritan, God dammit...
Yes, you get good karma for trying. Just having patience with a Metro newbie is enough to take some time off your sentence in Purgatory.
Posted by: JohnL at June 25, 2005 02:07 AM