Some people stink (in their brains)

Last week I witnessed the following exchange on the train: During the evening rush hour a young woman sat in the aisle seat next to me. She chatted with another young woman in the aisle seat across from her. Part way through the trip a clearly homeless man got on and stood at the front of the car, holding a sign soliciting help. That is not entirely uncommon. Similarly uncommon, most people ignored him.

However, as the man shuffled down aisle, clearly ashamed of his circumstances, the young woman leaned away from him as though he were threatening her, even though he was merely shuffling. She made remarks about how bad he smelled and told him to get away from her.

It was far worse than merely being ignored. (Not that being ignored is good, granted.)

The man continued past and presumably on to the next car.

A short while later, as the train was stopped at the platform of one of the stations on the route, a sheriff was walking along next to the train. The two women jumped up and quickly moved to toward the door farther back. Clearly they were worried the sheriff would enter and ask to see proof of fare that they didn't have, and were prepared to try to pull and end-around out the other door to avoid getting a ticket.

As it turned out the sheriff did not enter, so they escaped. However, part of me was actively wishing the deputy would get on and cite them in a bit of cosmic payback for the abject way they treated the homeless man.

I can only hope they end up homeless and stinky and panhandling themselves someday.

~

That's the nicer fate than what first came to mind.