Spock Misses The Point

This morning on my train ride to work I stood at my usual place in front of the exit on the landing of the carriage. Only this time I noticed a guy walking along the top level and stopped to ask somebody something. First I thought he knew her, but as it went on it was evident that it wasn’t the case. His stride was short and nervous. The left strap of his backpack was off his shoulder. He didn’t look at ease.

After their exchange stopped, he walked down to the landing where I was, and proceeded to talk to somebody who was seated behind me. It occurred to me then that he was asking whether this train went to a station which we had already passed two stops ago. People told him that he had to catch a train back the other way. Usually that would be enough for most people, but he was still very much clueless as to what to do next. He kept asking where he had to go to catch the train back. I chimed in at this point to tell him which platform it was. We were looking at it when we got off the train. It was the next set of platforms, which had big number signs clearly labeling which is which. Yet he still seemed lost.

As he walked down the stairs off the platform he was still asking people questions. They pointed him to the general direction, but of course it still wasn’t any help for him. I saw this as I was walking behind him. At the bottom of the stairs I couldn’t stand it anymore. So I told him to follow me and led him to the set of stairs which went up to the set of platforms he should’ve been on. He walked up the stairs, and I went on my way to work. I think he would’ve asked people again when he got up the platforms and hopefully somebody will help him there. He really didn’t know what his next step should be. I hope he got to where he wanted to go.

Good thing he wasn’t afraid to ask. I use to see a lady coming out of the same station who was always lost. She never asked anyone. I knew where she was going, and I know she would eventually find her way, everyday, but she never asked. She just kept looking here, looking there, going the wrong way, then back the other way, but she always got to the community center.

For some, finding the way isn’t a trivial thing at all. So do give a hand if you can.

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