"That Guy" Cleared The Bus

I rode the bus to work today as usual; however, it was anything but the usual ride. We picked up a passenger in a power-assisted chair which always takes a little extra time as the driver has to run the slow lift platform and usually has to usher a couple people out of the special section equipped with anchoring straps. Trying to be civic-minded it is a small price to pay to offer public transportation for the handicapped, but it is nothing compared to what it cost us down the road.

When we arrived at the first stop downtown at 4th and Hennepin the usual crew departed and then the driver went about unhooking the passenger with the power-assisted chair before returning to ready the lift platform. It quickly became obvious that something was not working correctly with this gentleman's chair as he started forward briefly before the chair halted and he started pivoting around looking for the source of the problem. A couple of people stooped down behind his chair trying to reconnect some wiring that had perhaps come loose. A couple more people got off the bus electing to walk the couple of extra blocks instead of waiting. Eventually the gentlemen who was now agitated clambered out of his chair and fixed whatever was wrong before struggling back into his chair. He then proceeded up to the front of the bus and began a tirade at the bus driver. At this point many people still waiting on the bus disembarked apparently uneasy with the situation. I heard the bus driver say, "I'm sorry." However, he was clearly mute to this guy because he kept yelling, "You've caused me pain and suffering..." and so forth. At this point I was becoming agitated at this guy and was feeling sorry for the bus driver. Very few people were left on the bus when the bus driver announced on the intercom, "I'm sorry ladies and gentlemen, but we're going to be here a little while." This essentially cleared the bus of all remaining passengers, myself included.

I was in no particular hurry and thought I may actually enjoy the long walk, but I was also annoyed and wanted very much to confront "that guy." In part to show my support to the bus driver and in part to stick it to the selfish idiot who has now completely stopped traffic and is delaying everyone coming into downtown from I-94. I elected to leave the situation alone and as I passed the front of the bus a woman on the street tried to intervene saying something to the guy about how he was causing a much larger disturbance to which he replied loudly, "I don't care. I don't care!" It was clear to me he was not to be reasoned with as his anger had taken control of him.

My walk was consumed, however, with thinking what I would have said to him and how it would not necessarily have fixed anything but would have been brilliant and made everyone else feel better. In my head it was a monologue as he sat silently listening to me say something like the following:

You complain of your pain and suffering? What about all the pain and suffering you are causing everyone else on this bus [now emptied]. Look behind you at all the other buses and cars you've stopped that are waiting. All those people are just trying to get from one place to another, most of them just want to make a living to support their families, perhaps just like you. You are clearly an angry individual. Are you simply angry because your body is failing in old age? Does it make you feel better to take your anger out on the world and everyone around you? Do you feel better making others suffer like you suffer? Does it make you feel strong again to exercise power in this way? Strength comes not from your body, it comes from your disciplined mind. You don't exercise power by being angry, it only exercises its power over you. Get over it you douche canoe. I'm going to go enjoy a long walk.

It always sounds better in your head though, so it's probably best that it stayed there for the most part. I don't know how the story ended but I doubt that guy found any enlightenment.