I was lucky enough to get a seat pretty early on the 4’s route. I have my back to a man who just got on the phone.
“Sarah? Are you there? I can’t hear you Sarah… Sarah?”
“Hey, it’s me. I just wanted to talk to you Sarah, I thought maybe we could see each other. I know you’re busy, but I just don’t like the way we left things.”
“I know baby, I didn’t mean those things I said.”
“Sarah, why don’t you just come over and we can just talk?”
I don’t really like the way the conversation is going, but it seems harmless enough. And then it escalates.
“Look Sarah, you still owe me some money, and I’m going to need that back.”
“If you can’t pay me back, we’ll have to find something you CAN pay me with.”
“I have to see you Sarah. Where are you, baby? I’m coming now. I hope you have my money.”
It escalates again.
“WHERE IS MY MONEY SARAH”
“I’M BUSING BY YOUR HOUSE RIGHT NOW SARAH. YOU BETTER HAVE MY MONEY.”
I pull out my phone to start texting the transit emergency number.
“SARAH IF YOU DON’T HAVE MY MONEY I’M GOING TO COME OVER THERE AND KILL YOU”
“I WILL KILL YOU SARAH”
I close the texting app and switch to dialling 911. I stand up and move so I can get a better look at him to give a description.
And then I see his hands. They’re empty. He has one hand balled up in a fist and held close to his ear. He’s shouting into the hand. There’s no phone, and more importantly, there’s no one on the phone. Looking at him now, it’s obvious he needs a doctor and not the police. He probably needs a roof over his head too.
I don’t finish calling 911, but I don’t know what to do. Before I really have time to think about it, a ragged looking man at the front of the bus limps over to the back.
“HEY TOM. Cut it out! You’re scaring people. Come on man, let’s get you off the bus. No, no, put the hand down, I know you’re not on a goddamn cell phone.”
The ragged man hauls the ragged-looking Tom off the bus. I watch the simultaneous lowering of several cell phones – other riders all ready to call for help.
I know he needs help, but I doubt he’ll find any in this city.