You’re over the imaginary line

I’m small, so I always get the sprawlers plopping down next to me on the Metro. You know what I’m talking about—those people who sit down, spread out their arms and legs, spread out their newspapers, squish you further into the corner of your seat than you already were, scoff at ideas of personal space, and hinder any chance of even slight movement. Sometimes the flailing pointy sticks are a deterrent. Not today.

Today, I think the sprawling excuse may have been long legs, but this bloke slid himself down into the seat at an angle, so he was partly over the not-so-imaginary line on my side of the seat. There are very obviously two seat cushions there. A visible divider. But it didn’t matter. I really think I heard a vacuum seal go WHOOOOOSH as he quickly lowered himself in and settled into his/my space with his newspaper.

As always, I was knitting. Knitting requires arm movement. He was partly on my seat cushion. Every time I grazed his side with my elbow, which was tucked in to my side because I was trying to make myself as small as possible and avoid contact, the guy would visibly flinch and cast a glance my way. I do mean the word graze. I was not poking or being forceful in any way.

I contemplated saying something to point out that it was impossible to make myself any smaller and that he was clearly over the line, but then I had visions of childhood car trips where I had to sit in the middle, feet straddling the “hump”, while my sisters got the more ample, comfortable outside space and boy how that got me steamed. Steamed with volume. My voice is probably still ringing in my parents’ ears. So, I felt childish. Justified, but still childish. And besides, he had a sneezing fit about 5 minutes into the trip that resulted in much nose honking, and I decided best not to make him aim in my direction with some instigating conversation.

When I did tuck my knitting back into my bag, he actually took notice, inquired if this stop was mine, and politely got up to let me out. Go figure.

I’m on the 5th increase repeat of the pink blob. It’s coming along… slowly.