On Friday, at 5:52 p.m., passengers aboard an uptown C train departing the 42nd Street Port Authority Bus Terminal station erupted into applause—and wolf whistles—after learning that their train was being held momentarily.
Aww, good for you, girl!
“It really gives you hope,” said one witness, Kaylie Bennet. “If someone as dysfunctional and chronically late as the C train can find someone to hold her, maybe I can too.”
“How does she do it?” remarked another passenger, who preferred to remain anonymous. “This train has been held three times in the past ten minutes, and I haven’t been held in years.”
The news shook several passengers out of their usual existential crises and inspired them to reflect on the meaning of love itself and the vastness of the concept of romance.
“Everything is so fast-paced these days,” said Ava Sim. “It’s all hookup culture, get in and get out. But not everything has to be about sex. It’s actually far more intimate to just lay together for a while. I wonder if I could get her number.”
Towards the front of the train, a group of high school students took bets on which lucky train was the big spoon in this scenario.
“I would love to get the gossip,” said Olivia Martinez. “The most obvious suspect is the A train, just in terms of proximity. But I’ve always wondered if there could be something between the C and the 1. They take people on basically the same route through most of Manhattan. There’s probably a lot of tension there. It’s totally an enemies-to-lovers situation.”
While many passengers seemed delighted by the train’s romantic success, there were a few skeptics in the crowd.
“I get it,” remarked Barbara Greene. “Sometimes you just need to be wrapped up in a blanket and held like a little baby. But when I need that, I make sure I do it in a way that doesn’t negatively impact others.”
When asked about the holdup, Shonda Johnson, the train’s conductor, explained that the train was being held due to an electrical issue at the Columbus Circle station. She told this to the passengers over the intercom, but no one could make out the words.
