Interview Doom
The day began early with a couple of SEPTA tokens and the 30th St. interchange. I left the newly familiar settings, and crossed the street to the station where the regional rail made its way back and forth across Philadelphia and its suburbs. I had an interview and a set time to be there but I left early with hopes of getting there with time to spare.
The station was huge and I got lost among dozens of people and arrows pointing to the nearest Amtrak train heading towards Harrisburg. I did not want to go to Harrisburg. The next half an hour involved me asking questions, “Where do I get the rail? How much will it cost? Where do I buy a ticket?” I walked the length of the station with each question, and when I finally got a ticket I plunked myself down on the nearest bench by the tracks and fiddled with my purse until the 9:45 train came.
Getting confused in a huge place that you’ve never been to is hardly caused by a higher power trying to bring you down; however, fate must have decided that my day would take a turn for the worst and keep turning. I should tell you that I was waiting for the R5 train, and when a train blew by that had a sticker on the back that said R7 I kept on fiddling with my pamphlets and papers but the woman in the booth, who knew my destination, waved frantically at me as a booming voice came over the loud speaker and announced the arrival of the R5. I ran to the train and got in line to hand my ticket in but when I got there the ticket takers said it wasn’t the R5. Strange, I thought, but I put my trust in the sticker singing R7 as the train pulled away because I couldn’t think of the last time a sticker let me down!
Let’s zoom by the next hour or so like the many trains I missed that actually were the R5. I’ll fast forward through the peaceful 45 min ride and the beautiful scenery, the old buildings and the interesting people. So here we are North Whales! I crossed the street to a bus stop that was barely a stop. I was in the middle of nowhere with a phone pole and a sign that said SEPTA. SEPTAs directions made it seem as if the next two busses I had to take ran quite frequently but after half an hour’s wait I began to suspect otherwise. Oh did I mention it began to rain? In stories like that you just have to assume that it began to rain at the most inappropriate moment, and, you guessed it, I had no umbrella!
This will be a cliff hanger!!!! What will happen next? Will April get into more ugly situations? Will she be shot while waiting for her bus!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!!? Tune in next time to see what ACTUALLY happens!
The station was huge and I got lost among dozens of people and arrows pointing to the nearest Amtrak train heading towards Harrisburg. I did not want to go to Harrisburg. The next half an hour involved me asking questions, “Where do I get the rail? How much will it cost? Where do I buy a ticket?” I walked the length of the station with each question, and when I finally got a ticket I plunked myself down on the nearest bench by the tracks and fiddled with my purse until the 9:45 train came.
Getting confused in a huge place that you’ve never been to is hardly caused by a higher power trying to bring you down; however, fate must have decided that my day would take a turn for the worst and keep turning. I should tell you that I was waiting for the R5 train, and when a train blew by that had a sticker on the back that said R7 I kept on fiddling with my pamphlets and papers but the woman in the booth, who knew my destination, waved frantically at me as a booming voice came over the loud speaker and announced the arrival of the R5. I ran to the train and got in line to hand my ticket in but when I got there the ticket takers said it wasn’t the R5. Strange, I thought, but I put my trust in the sticker singing R7 as the train pulled away because I couldn’t think of the last time a sticker let me down!
Let’s zoom by the next hour or so like the many trains I missed that actually were the R5. I’ll fast forward through the peaceful 45 min ride and the beautiful scenery, the old buildings and the interesting people. So here we are North Whales! I crossed the street to a bus stop that was barely a stop. I was in the middle of nowhere with a phone pole and a sign that said SEPTA. SEPTAs directions made it seem as if the next two busses I had to take ran quite frequently but after half an hour’s wait I began to suspect otherwise. Oh did I mention it began to rain? In stories like that you just have to assume that it began to rain at the most inappropriate moment, and, you guessed it, I had no umbrella!
This will be a cliff hanger!!!! What will happen next? Will April get into more ugly situations? Will she be shot while waiting for her bus!?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!!? Tune in next time to see what ACTUALLY happens!