[running with dignity]

another trax post!

there's nothing i love more than seeing people miss the train.
you can see their whole thought process from a block away.
they're ambling along towards the trax station, confident in the amount of time they have to get there.
they hear the dinging of the train as it rounds the corner.
their mind starts racing.
"do i go for it, looking like an idiot as i dash for the train i'm more likely to miss than make, or keep walking in order maintain my dignity, and catch the next train that will make me late?"
the majority pick option one.
it's a happy ending when they do in fact make the train, sometimes with a round of applause awaiting them. but i like it better when they don't. call it sadistic or just plain mean, but it makes my day.

me, i'm an option 2-er. when the walk or dash decision comes to mind, i decide to save face and risk tardiness. i refuse to run and look like an idiot because i will NOT gamble missing the train and making some other sadistic individual's day. i have too much pride.

today was different.

i decided to skip my last class, u.s. history, and head home. the class before got out at 12:05 and i knew the train was scheduled to depart at 12:11 from the nearest station. and, i've learned, it's usually a minute or so early.
so i'm speedwalking my fastest, because running would look stupid, and because i reeeeeeeeeeeally wanted to go home so it was imperative that i be on time. i then ran into a girl who is in the class that i was ditching, who wanted to talk about the upcoming exam. time was being lost. i quickly talked her into ditching class too and we headed off in the same direction. walking and talking was really hampering my speedwalking. it wasn't going to cut it. i could hear the dinging of the train as it rounded the corner. i was half a block away.
walk or run?
my desire to get off of campus and go home was too great.

barely managing a goodbye to the girl from my class, i ran.

with dignity.

the story ends happily, because i made the train and as a result, ran into another beloved high school friend.
so maybe next time, i'll run too.
[but most likely not.]