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"Just Another Friday the 13th"
6 years ago
I like to compare my life to sitcom characters who seem to suffer all sorts of misfortunes (e.g. 'George Costanza', 'Al Bundy', 'Alan Harper', et al). And, of course, my biggest misfortunes usually take place on Friday the 13th...
On Tuesday, September 10th, my brother Glenn and I went to the T.D. Bank to take out a loan - in order to pay my plumber (the same one who'd fixed my toilets and hot water heater earlier this month) for possible work on my air conditioner. The bank rep said she would notify Glenn (by phone) if I was eligible for said loan, within the next 24-48 hours; Friday (the 13th), the latest.
Sure enough, when Friday came, Glenn contacted me and said that the bank claimed that I cannot qualify for said loan (as I have no 'credit rating'). So, the two of us will have to obtain the loan from another source later this month...
To take my mind off of my bad luck, I'd decided to go to the Margate Public Library, and try to relax while using one of their computers. Taking a free shuttle bus, I arrived at the bus stop near said library, and walked 1,000 feet from there to its entrance... only to see a sign taped to its door, indicating that the facility was closed that day, because ITS air conditioning broke down!
I'd tried to run back to catch the shuttle, but it had already left for its next destination. Disappointed for wasting my time, I was about to walk home (a two-mile trek), when I'd just remembered about another library that was open: the one on the campus at Broward College. But the fare for each bus to get me there was $1.00, and I had no singles in my wallet...
So, I had to walk to the T.D. Bank (the same one where I'd unsuccessfully tried to get a loan), take $20.00 out from their ATM, and had a teller break the bill down into singles.
Walking to the nearest bus stop, I had to wait twenty minutes for the next available northbound #19 (local) bus.
I took said bus to a transfer point, where a #60 bus was already there - waiting to take its passengers to Broward College. I'd reached for the cord and pulled it - expecting the bus driver to hear a bell and a recorded voice that said "Stop requested" - indicating that this was my stop... But neither sound occurred!
I tugged the cord multiple times, and panicked when the bus driver missed my stop. "What's wrong with this bus?!" I'd yelled and turned to said driver. "What part of 'Stop requested' don't you understand?!" Eventually, he pulled the bus over at the next stop... two blocks away! I now had to walk back three-and-a-half blocks back to the transfer point - where, true to Murphy's Law, the waiting #60 bus had already left.
Ten minutes later, another #60 bus showed, but I couldn't board it, as its driver was taking a break. So, I stood outside the bus for another fifteen minutes, while the driver inside relaxed in air-conditioned comfort...
More passengers arrived and waited with me out in the hot sun. One passenger - who was familiar with the #60 bus - approached the middle doors of the rear exit, gingerly pushed them, and was able to enter the vehicle. Seeing this, I'd attempted to enter through the same exit door, but without success. Another passenger saw my plight, and assisted me through those middle doors.
The driver of the #60 bus was still relaxing, when he saw me. "Drop your fare off in the front," he told me. But instead, I sat down in a seat next to the exit door. "Your fare goes into the box up front," the driver reminded me again.
At this point, I'd explained to him all that had happened to me this morning - including the closed library and the #19 bus with its inoperable bell. "Considering what has transpired today, I shouldn't have to pay another fare," I said.
An argument between me and the driver was going to ensue, but the sight of a police car was parked near the bus stop brought things to a halt. The driver returned to his driving seat, while I sat back down by the middle door. Avoiding paying an extra dollar was the only lucky break on this Friday the 13th...
I finally got to the college library, and spent an hour or two there. Finally departing the facility, I had to wait another forty-five minutes for the #60 bus. And arriving at the original transfer point, I'd decided to walk to Burger King for lunch...
Once again, my bad luck returned as I approached the fast food restaurant. It began to rain 50 yards before entering it. I stood there, soaked to the skin, as the only customer (while everybody else was using the drive-thru). I stood by the counter for over ten minutes - deciding to make my order (two tacos) to go, one minute later. (During my wait, the #42 bus I wanted to take drove by.)
I carried my take-out order back into the pouring rain, and had to wait another half-hour in the doorway of a Boston Chicken (to stay dry). By the time I finally got home, I ate two wet and soggy tacos - trying to erase the memories of this really bad day... until the next month when Friday the 13th rolls around.
On Tuesday, September 10th, my brother Glenn and I went to the T.D. Bank to take out a loan - in order to pay my plumber (the same one who'd fixed my toilets and hot water heater earlier this month) for possible work on my air conditioner. The bank rep said she would notify Glenn (by phone) if I was eligible for said loan, within the next 24-48 hours; Friday (the 13th), the latest.
Sure enough, when Friday came, Glenn contacted me and said that the bank claimed that I cannot qualify for said loan (as I have no 'credit rating'). So, the two of us will have to obtain the loan from another source later this month...
To take my mind off of my bad luck, I'd decided to go to the Margate Public Library, and try to relax while using one of their computers. Taking a free shuttle bus, I arrived at the bus stop near said library, and walked 1,000 feet from there to its entrance... only to see a sign taped to its door, indicating that the facility was closed that day, because ITS air conditioning broke down!
I'd tried to run back to catch the shuttle, but it had already left for its next destination. Disappointed for wasting my time, I was about to walk home (a two-mile trek), when I'd just remembered about another library that was open: the one on the campus at Broward College. But the fare for each bus to get me there was $1.00, and I had no singles in my wallet...
So, I had to walk to the T.D. Bank (the same one where I'd unsuccessfully tried to get a loan), take $20.00 out from their ATM, and had a teller break the bill down into singles.
Walking to the nearest bus stop, I had to wait twenty minutes for the next available northbound #19 (local) bus.
I took said bus to a transfer point, where a #60 bus was already there - waiting to take its passengers to Broward College. I'd reached for the cord and pulled it - expecting the bus driver to hear a bell and a recorded voice that said "Stop requested" - indicating that this was my stop... But neither sound occurred!
I tugged the cord multiple times, and panicked when the bus driver missed my stop. "What's wrong with this bus?!" I'd yelled and turned to said driver. "What part of 'Stop requested' don't you understand?!" Eventually, he pulled the bus over at the next stop... two blocks away! I now had to walk back three-and-a-half blocks back to the transfer point - where, true to Murphy's Law, the waiting #60 bus had already left.
Ten minutes later, another #60 bus showed, but I couldn't board it, as its driver was taking a break. So, I stood outside the bus for another fifteen minutes, while the driver inside relaxed in air-conditioned comfort...
More passengers arrived and waited with me out in the hot sun. One passenger - who was familiar with the #60 bus - approached the middle doors of the rear exit, gingerly pushed them, and was able to enter the vehicle. Seeing this, I'd attempted to enter through the same exit door, but without success. Another passenger saw my plight, and assisted me through those middle doors.
The driver of the #60 bus was still relaxing, when he saw me. "Drop your fare off in the front," he told me. But instead, I sat down in a seat next to the exit door. "Your fare goes into the box up front," the driver reminded me again.
At this point, I'd explained to him all that had happened to me this morning - including the closed library and the #19 bus with its inoperable bell. "Considering what has transpired today, I shouldn't have to pay another fare," I said.
An argument between me and the driver was going to ensue, but the sight of a police car was parked near the bus stop brought things to a halt. The driver returned to his driving seat, while I sat back down by the middle door. Avoiding paying an extra dollar was the only lucky break on this Friday the 13th...
I finally got to the college library, and spent an hour or two there. Finally departing the facility, I had to wait another forty-five minutes for the #60 bus. And arriving at the original transfer point, I'd decided to walk to Burger King for lunch...
Once again, my bad luck returned as I approached the fast food restaurant. It began to rain 50 yards before entering it. I stood there, soaked to the skin, as the only customer (while everybody else was using the drive-thru). I stood by the counter for over ten minutes - deciding to make my order (two tacos) to go, one minute later. (During my wait, the #42 bus I wanted to take drove by.)
I carried my take-out order back into the pouring rain, and had to wait another half-hour in the doorway of a Boston Chicken (to stay dry). By the time I finally got home, I ate two wet and soggy tacos - trying to erase the memories of this really bad day... until the next month when Friday the 13th rolls around.
MelWhite
~melwhite
Agh! Sending you good mojo!
