Riding the Train

Never one to be late... I rushed out of my house and ran until my heart was actually in my throat, bolted into the station when I realised I had left my discount card back at home. £18 for a day travel card and a sweating face later I sat in a seat by the window on a fairly deserted train.

I'm quite a friendly guy, so I smiled to the woman a few rows ahead and instead of a smile back, she closed her eyes and i'm pretty sure she turned up her Ipod blanking me out.

As the journey progressed the train filled up with the morning commuters, most wanting to keep themselves to themselves and the rest ready for the day ahead. As the train became more and more populated, seats becoming fewer, I started to realise that the one next to me was still empty.

My first instinct was to smell my arm pit...This was something I wanted to do discreetly so I waited for the lady to my right to look the other way and as she did, shot up my arm taking in a quick smell.

My arm pit smelt fine, which would have reasurred me if it wasn't for the man standing behind me seeing me do it. I smiled awkwardly at him, which I'm pretty sure he took as if I was coming onto him and turned his back.

I was now sitting next to possibly the only seat free, people had got on and some were standing up. Don't get me wrong, I wasn't craving some company, but I suddenly felt very insecure.

I decided to drop my head back and close my eyes.

I woke up to an elbow in my side and a faint noise in my ear. I must have fallen asleep for 10 minutes and someone had taken my empty seat.

I looked at the man who had consummed his chair and was dripping over onto mine and realised that his elbow wasnt the only discomforting thing about him... He snored.

As i sat their regretting wanting the seat to be filled, the man snored on and I wondered why my car didn't start this morning. The more he snored, the more I found myself looking at him in disgust.

I looked at him with a scowl for what must have been the 40th time and just in that moment his eyes opened and stared at me staring. Instead of quickly turning away, I found myself not moving, making an awkward moment even more hideous.

The man smiled awkwardly and looked the other way the rest of the journey.

Thankfully the train pulled into the station and I was soon to be out breathing in the fresh air.

Safe to say my journey home was with my eyes shut, even if half of it was me pretending to be asleep.