The Marta Chronicles

Nothing, I repeat, nothing - in regards to life while riding Marta is fiction. I may add a word, here or there, but for the most part, The Marta Chronicles are true. I may include a joke but . . . MARTA is true. My uncle's arrest by the keystone marta cops was all true . . . the whole truth and nothing but the truth. He had to go to court for that.

Although I rarely ride Marta, the fare is now $1.75 . . . I guess its time. I wonder how much the transit systems charge in DC, Chicago and New York . . . not to be compared - they've exhisted longer (more people ride them). I'm not complaining. Well, yes I am. But for the most part. I end up paying $2.00 anyway. That's $4.00 a day (gas money - some would say).

I guess if my hate is so strong, I could cease to ride Marta, but then . . . there would be no Marta Chronicles. Besides, I meet alot of "interesting people" while riding Marta - they are so interesting, in fact, that one must write about them. That may be the reason some folks assume that the chronicles is a piece of ficticious literature. No, I really did meet a man who hates "yellow women" and wanted to bash my head open with a drink bottle - all because I was "yellow" but there wasn't a police officer around at the time to rescue this damsel in distress - yet three or four pounced on my uncle for "monthly card" sharing, which wasn't true. My uncle had dropped off his girlfriend at the train station. She was taking the train to the airport. When she went through the gate, she handed my uncle her card. The last time she'd left for Chicago, she took her card with her and lost it there, thus having to buy another one when she returned. So, she gave her card to my uncle to take back home with him. He didn't proceed through the gate or even try to use he - he headed back to his car. And even spoke to the "men hanging out." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone running up behind him, plain clothes mind you. And he turned around and decked the guy, who turned out to be a cop. But he didn't know that the group of "men hanging out" were police officers. In addition to that, they stopped the train, and pulled my uncle's girlfriend off of the train, took her back to the office for questioning. My uncle never rides Marta - never has and now, never will.

I never see officer, except on the trains. I never see the "managers" either - unless one is trying to hit on me. I'll have to tell you about the manager who: "Oh, by the way - did I tell you I was married. Yeah, I'm married and you can't call me at home 'cause all hell will break loose if you do."

posted by Darni @ 2/02/2001 09:27:00 AM