The Chicago C.T.A. entertains a lot of life, and by that I mean, lots of Chicago natives rely on the trains and buses to get them from point A to point B. Depending on the time of day, riding the train can mean basically snuggling with 10 people against the narrow halls between seats. Unless you are one of the blessed prophets, you will probably never get a seat during rush hour on the train; in fact, Jesus himself might not even be able to steal a seat from the entitled frat boys that have made the end of the subway cart their home. This leads me to the type of people you encounter on the train. It is a melting pot of human life.
1. The frat boys.
They stubble on the train at the Fullerton stop by DePaul, or the party all the way from the Loyala stop to head to the city for a night out. Either way, they reek of overpriced cologne and arrogance. To be fair, it's definitely not the worst smell on the train. If for some reason the overwhelming smell of urine blocks out the smell of entitlement, the fancy preppy attire is a dead giveaway. Among tired workers, homeless people and businessmen, these kids show up looking like they raided Banana Republic. These boys travel in groups, and they don't dare separate to make more room for people on the train. Instead, they discuss the intricacies of farting and coughing at the same time (I'm serious, you cannot make this stuff up) while blocking the doorway so everyone must shove to enter or leave the train car.
2. The crabby old lady.
You feel so bad for this poor old lady stuck on public transit, so you give up your seat thinking at least this way she can rest. Only, instead of getting a sweet response she barks at you for not moving quick enough. Not to mention, she complains every time new passengers get on the train and take up space. God help the person that accidentally brushed up against her.
3. The girl who has very personal phone calls on the train.
This is the girl who combats the horrible cell service in the train by yelling into her phone. By the end of the ride, you know the dirt on her mother, brother, boyfriend, and her social security number. Oh, and the doctor confirmed it wasn't just a rash.
4. The first-timer.
It is so clearly their first time on the train. They refuse to take out their phone for the fear of being mugged or missing their stop, and they stare at the train map the entire ride. When they try to walk as the train moves, like a bowling ball, they take down at least five people.
5. The mischievous kid.
This little kid is the highlight on the train ride. He makes faces at everyone that enters the train. He tries to talk to strangers, to his mom's dismay, and despite her best attempts to explain the train, he tries to get off at every stop (probably just to annoy his mom). If the train car is empty, he will try to run around it. Hey, aren't kids fun?
