THAT TRAIN

Excuse me.
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Sir?
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Sir?
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`What train was that that just left?
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Was it Pittsburg-Bay Point?
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Was it Dublin-Pleasanton?
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Was it Richmond, or Fremont?
Sir?
I have to get to Oakland Airport. That’s the Coliseum Station, right?
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Hello!
Doesn’t anybody speak Ibo?
Lao?
Finnish?
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Twi?
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English—does anybody here speak English!
I’m an American: I speak American!
I have a question!
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That train! Which train was--?
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Hello?
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Hello!
Somebody?
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Hope Southwest is running late.
I never intended to stay in the city so long.
Come on: somebody, speak to me!
What train--?
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What are my chances: one in three, one in four?
How frequently do the trains run?
I’m a stranger here.
First time in San Francisco.
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And my last: if no one speaks to me.
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PITTSBURG/BAY POINT: will that get me to Oakland by six o’clock?
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That train: what was the last train?
Maybe I shouldn’t have tried to get to Napa.
Do you think so?
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I didn’t think it was that far. It didn’t look far on the map.
Hey, dam nit, can you tell me if this is the train I need--?
Hey! This train—will it take me—is the train I need?

Copyright (c) 1998 by the author