So I have recently started using public transportation a lot, not just for nice little adventures into Portlandia, but for practical reasons. And because of where I live, and the fact that I am simultaneously poor and cheap, I have to get on in some pretty sketchy parts of town. I am really, really hoping that the sun for some ungoddessly reason starts staying up longer before the vernal equinox, cause I really hate walking alone in the dark between 8 and 10 pm, but whatever.
I digress.
Recently, there have been some really untoward happenings on the max in particular that freak me the eff out.
To begin with, the first night I rode it alone, I watched one girl get on with a baby in a stroller: her eyes rolling, her head nodding. The baby looked clean and well fed though. I decided I was being judgmental for my thoughts. The next stop though, apparently the “baby daddy” as she put it got on and she started screaming at him about smiling at her and not paying her child support, which he replied was cause she would buy drugs not formula, and she threatened to STAB him with the BABY. Awesome. Mom of the year.
Then this poor girl gets the crap beat out of her and NO ONE DID ANYTHING BUT FILM IT WITH THEIR PHONE. I saw the video before they took it down. Pretty disturbing:
Then last night I missed the train I wanted. Lucky for me, or I would have been here when this happened:
Poor kid just had a wrestling meet, was crossing the street with ear buds in and heard someone holler, took them out, asked “What?” and promptly got as his ass beat and sent to the hospital in severe condition.
Are you f**king kidding me?
Now mind you, I was at the mall and several Trimet stations yesterday and commented on the amount of cops, security and Trimet guys on the trains and in the mall. Hoorah! You are being a presence. But uh, apparently, you guys missed this one above. So what gives? Blazers game seems to be a good time to have heavier security considering there is about 40-50 thousand people in the place at a time. I mean Jesus.
Anyway, as I put on my brave big city girl face and divert my eyes from the crazies in the hopes that I don’t have my ass kicked for no reason, I offer this: I have the most heinous streaming pepper spray in my hand the whole time I am on the train. Its law enforcement strength with glow in the dark/luminous stain and I am not afraid to spray myself or others to get you.
And to you “innocent bystanders” that may get some in the process? Too bad, you guys should have done something to help those other kids. Collateral damage I say.
From one Pisces fish to you.... 