Tales from the Mechanic Centipede Archives: People We Meet on the Metro

  

Almost three years ago, I moved to a new city to embark on a new chapter in my life. I wanted to explore the world outside of my small village. I wanted to see unfamiliar faces and places.

In the city, you are introduced to one of the most convenient yet still inconvenient transportation vehicle that goes by the name Metro  or as I would like to call it the Centipede.  Why do I call it that you asked? Simple; It moves in certain circular articulations and it has more than four wheels (or let us call them legs) therefore it is in fact, a Centipede.

The Centipede entering process is simple but it also highly depended on the fast movements and the quick-reactions of the human body. Once you enter, you are given an invisible stopwatch. You have about twenty seconds before the doors close and the Centipede moves in action to the next station. In those twenty seconds, that are usually taken for granted, you have to pay for the death ride and find a seat or hold on for dear life on one of those yellow hangers things. I call them life supporters. My advice? Leg pressure. Move all the pressure and focus on keeping your legs glued to the gray ground. Standing next to the payment machine is also a good place to hold your grounds.

If you think this is silly or an over-reaction that means you have never taken a trip on the Centipede. I learned the hard way in which it functions, so consider yourself lucky with some of the tips I provided. I was not warned about the devil-ride.

Why did I dedicate two paragraphs to an explanation of the Centipede? I wanted to provide you with an imagery of what it is like to be there, I wanted you to imagine the awkwardness of it all. However, I would like not to get ahead of myself.

After learning the 101’s of the Centipede, you take the advanced classes of the Centipede. The people you meet on the Centipede. The people that I met fall into three categories.

1. The Metro Shadows:

The ones who enter silently, ghost like. They slide their card, it beeps, and that is the only sign of life they will give. They sit or sometimes stand, quietly. No eye contact, steady breaths, no reactions. For some reason they never wear sandals or open-shoes. My theory is that they are the urban legends of the metro. They have seen it all and they know it all. Legend has it, they are invisible to almost everyone. Therefore, seeing them could mean I am the chosen one.

 

2. The obnoxious façades:

The ones who make sure everyone else on the living planet knows that they have arrived. Yes, I am talking about loud gum chewing. Yes, I am talking about loud talking on the phone and inviting us to their phone conversation (with usually either their co-worker to gossip or their overly-protective romantic partner that is obviously a huge red flag). They just do it all, annoyingly. Do not even dare to tell them to keep it quiet. Because legend has it, again, that if you shall ask the obnoxious façades to lower their voices, you shall be cursed with the sentence of the motion slip and crash curse. Trust me; you do NOT want to know what that is. 

 

3. The Eyes of the Commute:

The deadliest of all. You know them, you heard of them and you are probably seeing one right now. Quiet like the Metro Shadows, obnoxiously equal to the façades. When they enter the metro, you feel them. Their wide-eyed gaze falls upon you. That tingling in the back of your neck that sends chills to all of your body? They are the cause of it (scientists would argue it could also be from the AC of the metro, but do you buy that? Choose your side wisely) 

They not only watch, they observe you. You cannot avoid it, many have tried to ignore it but alas, they had failed. They are inescapable. I know what you are thinking, I will stare back. Rookie mistake, my friend. It won’t stop it, just give in into the eyes.

 

These are the people I have encountered on the metro during my three years of living in the city and being on the metro almost daily. Consider this a seasoned traveler's warning as you embark on your own journeys aboard the Centipede. Arm yourself with the knowledge of these archetypes, for they are the silent architects of the metro's social dynamics. Jot down these observations in your mental notebook, study the subtle nuances, and decode the unspoken language of the metro. In this bustling underground realm, understanding your fellow travelers becomes not just a skill but also a survival strategy. So, as you step onto the platform, be vigilant, for the Metro Chronicles are waiting to unfold before your very eyes.