After mistiming my exit from the house today I found myself sprinting down the path to the station as the 7.20am train that I wished to catch was pulling in. I accelerated as I saw the orange lights come on above the doors, I pushed myself to go faster as I heard and saw people boarding, I took the stairs at the station 3 at a time, I heard the doors shutting and just as I got on the platform and reached to open the door heard the clunk of the lock connect.
I looked towards the guard, a man I see regularly, and have even struck up conversations with, opening my arms imploringly to see if he could unlock the doors on the stationary 125. No he said making a crossing motion with his arms. I was disappointed as I have seen him do so before for a number of young attractive ladies who have made a similar last minute dash. Why would he not do the same for an overweight red haired Scotsman? He's never discriminated on grounds of hair colour before.
Then as I dejectedly stepped back from the train he waved...I looked round and as there was no one else on the platform I knew he was waving at me. I suddenly felt lonely, like an insider looking in as others took their seats. It took me back to that feeling you have as a young child at school, when you know someone is having a party, all your friends are nvited and your not. Still not one to dwell on those feelings, and just to show no hard feelings I waved back.
.....and if I time my connection right I can beat him to Paddington and ask why he waits for young attractive women who don't give him the time of day, but not for someone who has actually entered into conversation with him...
The train left at 7.20:16 so unlocking the doors for me would not have made much difference, after all I have to stand and wait for late trains often enough, surely once I could have got the same treatment as the attractive females who board at Cholsey get? Or is it because he mistook my red hair for ginger? I must ask next time I see him.
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