Twittering

An Object on the Tracks

        Scrolling announcement on the message board at the train station: “The North Line is currently not operating due to a trespasser at Wellington.”
        Ticket agent: “I don’t know when the North line will be operating again. Just as soon as they remove the body from the tracks.”
        The 7:04 had been cancelled, so I wondered if the 7:25 would leave or not. Since I had arrived in plenty time to purchase my ticket, I figured I should use the restroom and get some food -- just in case. I’m optimistic though, as we just pulled out of the station, only 4 minutes late.
        Update 7:37 a.m.: We’re stopped on the tracks. Not even at the Clybourn stop yet. Somewhere near the Miller Lite sign that can be seen from the Kennedy Expressway. No announcement. Thank goodness I grabbed some food before hopping on board.
        Update 7:43 a.m.: Apologies for the delay just announced over the public address system. Due to an earlier incident, they are running a single track. We’ve not seen a train come from the other direction, though.
        Update 7:51 a.m.: “Metra does apologize for the delay due to the single track operation because of the earlier incident.”
        Update 7:53 a.m.: A southbound train just passed. There are a number of express trains that still come into the city at this hour, so don’t know that we will be able to move forward just because one train has passed. Other passengers appear to be relatively calm. If this were taking place in the evening, people would be going crazy. Now, they are just going to sleep.
        Update 8:00 a.m.: More apologies. Waiting for an opening so that we can continue to go North. I just realized if they are running on one track, I’m sitting on the wrong side of the train to see the body.
        Update 8:02 a.m.: Second southbound train just went by.
        Update 8:07 a.m.: Third southbound train.
        Update 8:12 a.m.: I think a fourth train just went by. Not that I can’t count to four, but I wasn’t paying attention. Went off in la-la land.
        Update 8:19 a.m.: An announcement saying they will keep us informed.
        Update 8:26 a.m.: This is the time we normally pull into Lake Forest. Or at least are scheduled to pull into Lake Forest. Another train just passed. The fifth? The Chicago Tribune is reporting that a pedestrian was struck near the Clyborn station, and the vague closing statement, “Details to come.”
        Update 8:38 a.m.: We’ve been stopped for an hour now. What I think is the sixth inbound train just passed. The ladies on the lower level have turned the seats around to face each other. One has a laptop with a wireless card. She’s surfing the Internet for information. The others are on their blackberries. I’m surprised they haven’t pulled out their knitting needles, but then these women don’t have time to knit.
        Here on the upper level, we’re still isolationists. The Twins are at the end of the row. One is sleeping. The other just finished the Red Eye’s sudoko.
        Update 8:44 a.m.: We will not be moving until 9:10 a.m., they just announced. This train will stop at Clybourn, and then run express to Waukegan. Then the next train will go express to Highland Park. The train following that will make all stops. No one--not even the conductor--is clear if the Highland Park train will continue to make stops, or if it will stop. People are starting to get restless. I am reminded, at times like this, that social order balances on a razor’s edge.
        Update 8:57 a.m.: The seventh inbound train -- the train with the club car where they smoke and drink cocktails -- just went by us. A sixth train went by while I got up to use the restroom. An announcement just clarified the train behind this one will run express to Highland Park, and then stop. But there won’t be anyone on that train because most people get on at Ravenswood and Evanston.
        Update 9:05 a.m.: My friend Liz called after I sent her a text message. She normally gets on at Ravenswood. She said she finally had to take refuge in the Golden Nugget Diner. I could so use a BLT right now. If I survive this, please, somebody, let my mama know I loved her.
        Update 9:10 a.m.: The eighth train just passed. I’m growing a beard while I sit here and wait.
        Update 9:13 a.m.: Still not moving. They reminded us of the train logistics and apologized. They said it was due to a “fatality suicide.”
        Update 9:14 a.m. The ninth train just passed. I am thinking this is an April Fool’s joke, and any moment we’ll all be laughing.
        Update 9:15 a.m.: Oh, the humanity! We’re moving!
        Update 9:31 a.m.: I’m on a train that is moving north. We got off at Clybourn. Another train arrived--one we were told was going to Highland Park. The conductor said everyone was getting off this train.
        “There is a train directly behind us. It will be making all stops.”
        “We were told this train is going to Highland Park!” a woman yelled.
        “This train is not going to Highland Park. The next train will go to Highland Park.”
        “We were told this train is going to Highland Park. Where is this train going?”
        “This train is not going to Highland Park. The next train will go to Highland Park.”
        The wind was blowing. It’s only 39 degrees. I was only on the platform for 15 minutes, and I was feeling hypothermic. I don’t know how the people who stood there for ninety minutes could tolerate it.
        Total chaos was about to erupt.
        Update 9:45 a.m.: This train is full. There are people standing in the aisles. I don’t know how we’re going to pick up all the people we need to pick up. This train is filling the void of three trains. People are jockeying for seats.
        Update 10:45 a.m.: I just arrived at work.