Setting: 5 P.M. Tuesday. Downtown 6 train – pulling into 68th Street station. People rush off; people rush on.
The bystanders: 50,000 tired New Yorkers and me.
The main characters: A short, stocky, bald, 50-somethings man who looks like he's just left a construction site (we'll call him Mikey); and a tall, thin, ragged denim jacket-clad man (also in his 50s), who seems to have just come from operating an elevator for nine straight hours (Don).
Mikey has been standing next to me for several stops. When the doors open, Don is the first of many to press into the train. Doors try to close. Twice. As they continue to close unsuccessfully…
Mikey (to Don with heat): Hey, guy! I can't go nowhere!
Don (quickly pointing backwards): Hey, guy! It ain't me that's doin' the pushin'!
Mikey: I'm just sayin'…
Don: Don't yell at me! I ain't doin' nothin'!
Mikey: You're doin' somethin'… you're pushin' up on me!
Don: Don't yell at me, Pop!
Mikey: I'm not the one who's yellin'! And I ain't your Pop!
Don: You are yelling! You're yellin' at me!
Mikey: I ain't the one who started yellin'! Stop yellin' at me!
Don: Hey! Look, we all pay two bucks for this crap.
Mikey (with avid agreement): That's right!
Don (bordering on camaraderie): You know it's right!
Mikey (with certain camaraderie): Yeah!
I stood dumbfounded.
In a mere 30 seconds, these two men had just undergone a complete interpersonal evolution — from strangers to mortal enemies to best friends.
And they say chivalry is dead.
- Submitted by Duke Rodda
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shortest love story ever! 30 seconds of this love says a lot.
PS: I have seen people beginning to slap and punch too in 30 seconds!