This morning, I was riding the #9 bus from South Boston to the Back Bay, when I encountered a passenger who clearly did not have a firm understanding of how you ride the bus during rush hour. I was checking my iPhone or reading my book, when all of a sudden, I encountered the following conversation take place between the woman sitting two seats down from (I was sitting in the back row) and the guy sitting kitty-corner from me.
Angry business man: STOP JOSTLING YOUR KNEE! I am trying to read the paper. (Please note, his arm was clearly well over his armrest and on top of her purse.)
Woman: Stop using my knee as your armrest.
Angry business man: I was on this bus first and picked this seat. You are the one who came on after me and picked that seat.
Woman: Are you kidding me? It’s rush hour and every seat, plus standing room is going to be taken!
A.B.M.: You could have picked any other seat, but you had to sit right there when I was already sitting here.
Woman: That’s how the bus works in the morning…you fill in the bus so everyone can get on.
A.B.M.: That’s just so f****in inconsiderate. You are such a b**ch.
The conversation clearly went even further down from there. I was tempted to move over a seat and shove my large bag into his knee every time the bus turned, but I held back as this guy clearly had anger management issues. I did not want to set him off further. When he got off, he glared back at us as he walked outside. I told the woman sitting next to me that I think the guy had ordered town car service, but had accidentally gotten on the bus instead.
-m