The Dangers of reading

So I was on the train this morning – heading to work – reading my book (“Blackwood Farm” by Anne Rice) when I vaguely hear: “This is Argyle”. Shortly afterward came the announcement “Doors Closing”. It was several seconds after this that I looked up from my book and realized … Argyle is my stop.

So — in a brilliant impersonation of a special ed student during a non-scheduled fire drill — I BOLT for the closing doors.

Thankfully – although my book bag was open, falling, and carried along precariously by only a zipper tab, and although my book was in a continuous lateral pass from one arm to the other – I made it out of the L car before the doors closed on me. And even more thankfully there was a platform based billboard behind which I could hide from anyone who had witnessed this.

Once I had my book back in my bag – and the bag properly sealed … (and once the train full of witnesses had left, and the others who got off at this stop were well on their way down the stairs) … I continued on to the office.