#23

He was moments away from cracking the Sudoku puzzle on his phone when the bodies standing in front of him parted to reveal a man not much older than himself pushing a walker. He knew that everyone on the crowded train was looking at him now, waiting for him to stand up and offer the man with the walker his seat. It was a “Priority” seat meant for elderly, disabled, or pregnant passengers. He knew he had to stand. He should stand. But he had six more stops and his own back hurt even though no one could see this by looking at him. And besides this other man could use his walker as a seat, he had seen his own mother do it before. Just lock the wheels and turn your ass around and down. He thought about explaining this to the man with the walker. Maybe this man had no idea he was shuffling around with his own chair in tow. Maybe he would be doing him a big favor by letting him know. A big favor for everyone going forward who needed a seat that this man would otherwise be occupying. But before he could do anything the woman sitting next to him stood and offered the man her seat. The other passengers cleared way so the man with the walker could maneuver himself into the space made for him. And as he sat and nodded his thank yous to everyone, he turned and said “asshole” to the man playing Soduko on his phone.