The train home last night was crowded so I had to stand in the little vestibule in between the cars. I was sharing it with another man. Before the train left, he hopped off (I assumed to ask the conductor something) but he didn’t take his bag with him. The doors closed and the train left without him. I felt awful.

When the conductor came for my ticket, I told her about the man who came on and jumped off without his bag. She looked worried, so I assured her it was a mistake. I could tell because after the doors closed the man looked back from the platform with a horrified look on his face. Once she knew that, the conductor became angry. “What the hell am I supposed to do with this?” she asked no one. Help the man get it back? That’s why I told you. She walked off with the bag, probably to find someone who cared a little more than she did.

When we got to Secaucus, the train stopped and the doors opened. They stayed that way for about 15 minutes. No announcement was being made, but I knew it was because of the bag. They had to check it just to be careful.

A big man wearing a Devils jersey came up from his seat and into the vestibule to ask if I knew what was happening. He sounded frustrated. I told him about the bag man, but I also said I wasn’t completely sure. He didn’t say anything, but stayed with me. After a bit of a wait, the doors closed and the announcement was made saying it was indeed because of the bag.

I looked at the man with a little smile, thinking he would be glad to at least know why we had stopped. He looked over at me like I had just killed his daughter. “Because of you I’m going to be fucking late.” (BY A FEW MINUTES. TO A DEVILS GAME)

I told him it was the right thing to do, and if no one said anything it would have been stolen. He said he didn’t care. I told him if something bad had been in the bag that something way worse than a 15 minute delay would have happened to everyone on the train, including him. Like, KABOOM. He said at least then he wouldn’t have to worry about being late. (????). I would have laughed if I didn’t want to slap him so much (/cry).

This was a real-life human grown up man talking to me.

So, what I’m trying to say is: Everyone is the worst.