It’s hard thinkin' about, even now, seein’ something that horrible. I wish I’d been able to do more, but at the same time, I wish I’d never been there at all, you know?
I was stemming by 34th, a lot of traffic whatever time it is. Most people wish me away, but there’s enough Samaritans to get me by. Anyways, I don’t usually go down to the platform, cops are all over us lately for that. But it started raining somethin’ crazy, so I ducked in just to stay dry, and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to try for some extra.
There was this guy, you know the type, banker or exec or something, talking non-stop with a blue light in his ear. You’re not rich and you do that, people walk clear around you, but this guy nobody thinks twice even if they can’t see the light. He’s rich, so he can’t be crazy.
Anyhow, I sidled up, gave him my best good morning smile and nod. He gave a look back, and I recognize it straight off. If I were a guy, he wouldn’t have bothered, but this is that “wonder what she’d look like if she was naked...and cleaner” quick up-down look. I guess I wasn’t good enough for even a three-second fantasy, because he went back to the other world he lived in, where people like me don’t exist.
Some people might’ve got pissed, started layin’ into the guy. But whatever, turn the other cheek, right? So I did, I turned to find somebody decent, only I looked back ‘cause he yelled. Banker-guy was waving his arms, trying not to fall, dumb-ass surprised look. I might’ve bust out laughing, it was funny, but a track-dive is no joke. Down he went.
I looked, and he’s on the tracks, screamin’ like a baby...the way he’s not movin’ ‘em, I figured his arm’s broke, maybe leg too, or it’s just jammed under a rail? People were there but just starin’ like they don’t know what to do. All sudden-like I’m jumpin’ down there with ‘im. I dunno why, felt bad I guess, figured maybe he's a creep, but he don’t deserve dyin', someone’s gotta help.
Right away, he’s begging! Pulls a wallet with his unbroke arm, says he’ll give me everything if I just help him. I say I ain’t takin’ money to help somebody off the tracks, but he’s crazy, won’t listen, so I take it just to shut him up. Then I try to get him to the platform, haulin’ on his good arm, but his leg’s caught good. He’s freakin’ out and I’m not an amazon or nothin’, us two can’t get his leg out.
Train’s coming, he tells me to go...and I do, I climb out. I see his face one last time.
“I’m sor-” he starts, and then the train’s there, same old train noise but with this nasty extra sound.
So yeah, maybe he was a creep, but he was ok in the end, people want to be decent, you know?
Sometimes they just need a little push.