Friday, August 30, 2013

The Subway Stairs Story

Funniest story from the subway today, I thought I better write it down before I forget:

I was going to meet Scott downtown after T's nap.  So I got our stroller packed for a day in SoHo, Chinatown and a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge.  The stroller was quite full and quite heavy.  Getting down the stairs to the subway causes me a considerable amount of anxiety... it's getting better with time, but I still get geared up and eager about the whole situation.  The stairway at our stop feels particularly narrow.  So today I got to the top of the stairs, and waited a long 30 seconds for a kind stranger to offer a helping hand. When nobody volunteered, I just lifted the thing up and started down the stairs myself.  A few steps down I saw another stroller coming up, so I stepped aside trying to make room for all of us.  Through this process, there was a very large man standing about 5 steps below watching the whole ordeal.  Once the other stroller passed I continued down the stairs, watching my footing and trying to get a better hold on my stroller.  When I reached the man, I realized he wasn't moving and this event was going to be even harder than I anticipated.  

Then from the bottom of the stairs turns a woman, jaw dropped open, appalled at what is going on.  She immediately looks straight at the standing man and shouts,
"Would you help her???"

After some negatory body language, she gets crazy.
(Keep in mind that here I am, between two steps awkwardly hefting the stroller and a crying baby)

Woman: "Take a look at your surroundings, and then act like a HUMAN!"

He defensively says "You don't know my situation, woman!"

Woman: "You could at least move your fat body!"

Oh baby... it was intense!
The woman then proceeds to come gently over and lift the end of the stroller all the way to the bottom of the stairs.

Once I thanked her profusely, she marched right back up there to give him some more fightin' words!  I heard them banter for at least another 2 minutes while I waited for my train.  I have a feeling this is only the first of many solo adventures on the subway stairs.

4 comments:

Besta said...

Oh. My. Gosh! I knew that it was just a matter of time before we got a good subway story. I'm glad there were no punches given. And I hope there's more stories soon- but all funny ones!

Tara said...

hahaha! I've heard some subway stories; this one is pretty darn good! Are there no elevators?! You NYC mamas need to put up a stink and get that fixed!

Claire said...

You're a champ!

Heather said...

Great story! I loved the lady bawling out the non helper. Go girl.