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Wednesday's are long days. They begin with class at 10:00 and end when my boss gets back from his weekly meeting. This past Wednesday, I stayed even later to finish life stuff that I started earlier in the day. Although I did not enjoy staying so late, it felt good to complete something. By the time I boarded the 50 LTD for the ride to Snelling, it was already getting dark.
Not that the man at the front of the bus would have noticed. I had seen him several times before, in the cafeteria, being led around by various young workers. I had seen him in the basement hallways, using his cane to guide his way.
As it happened, he was getting off at Snelling too. I heard him tell the driver that he needed to get to the Spruce Tree Building. The driver responded that he had just passed it and the man would have to cross Snelling to get there. I offered to guide him, since I was heading in that direction anyway. It was cold out, and a dirty mound of ice made stepping out of the bus a challenge for everyone. But because he could not see his way, he had to step way down to street level, and then step way up to the berm formed by repeated snow plowings. Once we had both descended (much to the relief I'm sure of the driver and the other passengers), he took my arm and we proceeded to walk slowly into the wind in the direction of Snelling Avenue.
We chitchatted about the bus service and how hard it was to get off the bus. He explained that he was supposed to be at this meeting at 5:30 or quarter to six. It was already nearly 6:00pm. I saw for the both of us, which meant that I was busy making eye contact with other pedestrians, so that they could get out of the way. Walking on icy sidewalks is hard enough when one has a chance to see the hazards. Because I was so engaged, I did not have the opportunity to look at my companion until we arrived at the corner of Snelling and University. He wore a bright orange watch cap, which he had pulled down as far it would go, covering his sightless eyes entirely. I thought to myself "Why the Hell not?" We crossed Snelling, the crossing signal providing inadequate time for us to make it across. Drivers making left turns onto Snelling drove around us as if we were obstacles to their quick and warm drive home.
We navigated the icy step up onto the sidewalk, and around the snow-covered planter in front. I got him to the front door of the building and sent him on his way. And still I wonder what would drag him out into the icy wind for a meeting at the Spruce Tree Building on a Wednesday evening.
Posted by Underblog at January 28, 2005 7:22 AM