The MBTA has just been added to my list of absolute bastards, along with Comcast.
i am posting from the center of agony, by the way. I mean, really, how often do you get to read about someone's pain when they're in the middle of experiencing it? Typing makes it hurt less. No, I did not get hit by a bus, but my ankle sure looks like it got run over by something with ten wheels.. It's not quite turning horrid colors yet, and that is what worries me.
Not thirty minutes ago, I jauntily boarded the #39 on my way home from work. It was a bit crowded, so I stepped up through the rear door and hung on as the doors closed and I was pressed into everyone around me. As the bus pulled up to the next stop, though, I was pushed forward and i moved my right foot up to brace myself, right into the well for the inward swinging- doors. Ever had your foot slowly crushed by a hydraulic door? At first I looked down and said, "Oh, " as i tried to wriggle my shoe out.
No good. The door opened some more, pressing on my ankle bone. Ow.
"Stop opening the door!" I yowled. "My foot is caught!"
I yelled a little more, because it was really starting to hurt, but the door kept moving. Some other people tried to push the door back for me so i could get free, and others yelled for him to shut it, but it kept crushing my foot more and more. I felt something go "pop." I started struggling furiously and shrieking, because I was in terrible pain and starting to panic that my ankle would break. Everyone was yelling for him to stop, but the door simply wouldn't close again. I don't know if the driver couldn't hear me or thought nothing of my screams, but apparently females howling like banshees are no cause for alarm. So, I screamed again, louder than I ever have in my life, because i needed to.
And then the door released me, and slammed shut. I nearly fell over.
Granted, in that split second I felt pretty stupid for putting my foot there in the first place, but on closer inspection I noticed there really wasn't any yellow caution markings in that area, or any warnings about it being a pinch point. And the door is, apparently, entirely automatic (unlike the old bus doors, which will stop at human resistance), so that if there is an emergency the closing/ opening swing can't be manually aborted. This could happen to anyone standing near the door. Which seems like a bad thing to me.
People were asking if I was okay, and grumbling about the stupid bus, or looking at me like I was crazy. My ankle felt okay at first, probably because of the adrenaline in my system, and I was also embarassed about the scene I'd just made, so I shrugged the whole thing off. I'm adept at nonchalance in the middle of a crisis- which often means people underestimate my need. I could have been run over by the bus itself, and it would be in my nature to peel myself off the asphalt, crack a silly joke, and crawl off somewhere to die when noone was looking. At any rate, I hobbled around for a bit, called Bryon to rant, and then got on the next bus. I've only just limped up the street to my door, looking like an Igor. And now, here I am writing, because I'm upset and it hurts like hell. And my throat hurts from screeching, too.
Hm. it looks like I can still wiggle my toes, so maybe nothing was broken. but I don't think dance class is gonna happen tonight. ergh. I'm going to go have a nap and find me some ice.
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