Running towards something…

There are occasions where riding the bus in the city is a less than desirable experience.  As often as I’m on the bus, usually there might be something just slightly off with the ride in general, but for the most part I can usually ride without being offended or disgusted.

Saturday was not one of these days.

I’m on the Broadway bus, heading towards my friend’s work so I can pick up some double-pointed knitting needles from her.  I’m in the seat just in front of the back doors, and when the bus gets crowded, people tend to stand right behind where I’m at because there’s a little more elbow room per person. 

So there I am, reading Such a Pretty Fat, when I realize the 2-3 guys behind me are being kinda obnoxious.  They were making comments as people got on the bus - mostly of the rude kind.  Calling old people slow, calling people smelly, making comments about women…

A side note: These were younger guys (they were debating on who was the ‘old man’ of their trio and one guy in particular was adamant that turning 19 did not make him old), these were guys who seemed a little more on the blue-collar side (one mentioned when he had enough money to buy his own car he’d be giving people rides everywhere and then they wouldn’t have to, “take this fucking bus anymore”), and as much as I tried not to stereotype, I could tell what races each of these guys were based on what they were saying, and how they were saying it.

Anyhow, the bus passes Montrose (which was only a couple stops before where I was about to hop off the bus) and one of the guys started talking about a couple of women on the side of the street.  “Double Stuffed” I believe is the term he used when describing their physiques.  Another guy then says, “yeah, up here there’s a whole lot of thick-bottomed women”. 

After hearing this, I seriously said a prayer that these guys would get off the bus at the stop in between mine, but of course I was not that lucky.  This meant I would have to walk through them in order to get off the bus because you know these aren’t the type of guys to get out of the way.

So, I hopped out of my seat and said, “excuse me” and none of them really made any move to get out of my way.  Maybe a slight shift to the right, but not nearly enough room for me to get out without seriously feeling up someone and the idea of that?  ew.  So I did what any normal, mildly offended Chicagoan would do in this situation.  When the bus came to a complete stop I said, quite loudly I might add, “Excuse me! Thick-bottomed woman coming through!”

Suddenly there was room for me to exit, and I’m sure at least 3 sets of eyes watching my ass as I walked off the bus and continued down the street.