Paying Attention

Almost all the seats on the 7:00 a.m. underground train from Richmond to London were full this morning.  I sat sipping my latte perusing this way-too-early morning crowd.  Everyone sat entranced in their own bubble transitioning from bed to work:  nose in newspaper, eyes glazed over novel, ears throbbing with music, hand finishing makeup, head nodding.  No one talked or expended any extra energy.  The speakers announced, "This is the District Line train to Upminster."  I opened my book and started reading.  The speakers mumbled something but I paid them no mind.  Suddenly everyone--all of us, jumped up out of our seats, dashed out the door and threw ourselves into the opposite train where we sat down just as suddenly as two seconds ago we had stood up.  It happened so fast I didn't even know how I knew to get up.  I must say, though, I was proud I didn't knock over that short lady in the brown poncho in front of me as I passed her quickly on my right.  I did feel my elbow itching to thrust her aside but I held it in check.

Back to my book reading.  Again "This is the District Line train to Upminster."  I felt a soft touch of my foot as a businessman carrying a coat bag got on the train with a big black dog and stopped right by me.  "It's illegal for dogs to be on the underground," I thought half a second before I noticed the dog's bright yellow halter and double leather leash.  "Had he touched my foot to see if this seat was empty? I should offer him my seat," I felt lightly in my gut.  "No, it's OK as is," I thought and went back to reading while the man and his dog stood calmly near me.  The train started.  Two stops and five minutes later a man sitted across from me left his seat to approach the standing man.  "Would you like to sit down?" he asked.  The man nodded and offered his arm to be escorted.  I looked down at my hands.   I should have gone with my first gut instinct.  Had the other man been trying to figure out what to do these last five minutes before he had acted so nicely?  What had graced him enough to stand and cross the floor?

The blind man sat, the gracious man got off at the next stop and I went back to my book on how to pay  attention.