Nov. 20, 2016
11:30 pm
Beijing, China
Okay, so quick story because it’s late and I want to go to sleep. This did not happen today, but I forgot to tell you about it and I find it hilarious.
This happened a while ago, the day I went shopping at IKEA with Nayyir, Shay and Atiana. I told you that the subway ride home was very long, right? Well, what I didn’t tell you was that I had to stand the entire time. There were just no seats available, plus I had a bag full of stuff and a pillow. So I left Walmart by taking Line 10 with Shay. She got off at Line 1, but I continued to Songjiazhuang. This is the stop where Line 10 meets Line 5 and the Yizhuang Line. For those who are unaware (most of you), I live off the Yizhuang Line. The changeover there is pretty crazy and there are often a lot of people. That day was no exception. I lined up with everyone else outside the train and then hurried on once the doors opened.
I ended up standing right inside the doors, but in the center of the car; I had my back to one door and was facing the other. These two guys got on right behind me. One was young, probably a little older than me, and was playing on his phone. The other was an older gentleman, probably around 50, well dressed. When we left the station, I pulled out my phone to read my Kindle. As I did, I noticed the older gentleman lean up against the wall. A few minutes and a couple stops later, I hear a soft thud behind me. The older gentleman had slid down the wall and fallen to the floor.
So here’s the picture, I’m standing in the middle of the car, looking down at this man on the floor, slumped against the wall. The younger guy behind me was also staring at the man. The gentleman didn’t open his eyes after the fall, and I’m actually sort of worried. The younger guy and I share a mutual look that knows no language barrier, “What the heck just happened and what am I supposed to do?” We both glance at the man and share one more look. I’m seriously about to bend down and check the gentleman for a pulse. But then his eyes start to blink and he slowly begins to wake up. The guy behind me and I both breathe small sighs of relief and try to look away quickly before he notices us staring. The older gentleman remains on the ground for a bit longer as he gathers his bearings. At the next stop he stands back up and moves a bit further into the car. I believe he was trying to make sure he didn’t get comfortable again. He gets off a couple stops later.
I don’t know if it’s wrong for me to find that funny, but I do. I mean, seriously? I’ve never witnessed someone fall so fast asleep that he falls to the ground and doesn’t even wake up. Plus, the fact that the other guy and I got to share in this brief moment of concerned panic was pretty funny in hindsight. I do hope the guy got home okay, though, and got a nice good night of sleep.
Now I intend to do the same.
Goodnight and Bless,
Kristen
