A woman took up two passenger seats on the bus, and when a young guy tried to sit in the free seat, she caused a real scandal 😲😥
Suburb. Morning. District center.
The bus was packed to the brim. The air was like in a steam room, there was absolutely no space.
I got on at the stop by the old store and noticed one free seat by the window. On the neighboring seat sat a woman about fifty years old, stout, with painted lips, a large plastic bag on her lap. Next to her — empty.
I leaned over and politely asked:
— Excuse me, is this seat free?
The woman grimaced as if I had asked her to sell her soul:
— Taken!
— And who sits here?
She waved her hand as if shooing a fly:
— None of your business. I want to put my bag here!
People started exchanging looks, and I stood there shocked. What right does she have?
I sat down. Quietly. Carefully. Didn’t push or touch her. Just took the empty seat.
And then it started.
— What are you doing, rude jerk?! I told you — this is taken!
— No one is sitting here, and there are no things either. Don’t you see there’s not even space to stand on the bus? I speak calmly.
— I don’t want you sitting next to me! I paid for my ticket, I have the RIGHT!
— Are you sure? Did you pay for two tickets?
She hesitated. For a second. Then shouted at the top of her lungs, throughout the bus:
— It’s none of your business! Go away, idiot!
A voice from the back:
— Ma’am, have some decency…
— Don’t interfere! — she yelled. — I want to sit alone.
But then something very unexpected happened, after which the woman just stood up and got off not at her stop. Continued in the first comment 👇👇
The conductor approached. Confident, like someone who’s dealt with troublemakers before.
— What’s going on?
The woman started yelling:
— He sat down! I asked him not to! It’s hard for me! I’m alone the whole way!
The conductor said strictly:
— Show your ticket.
— Why?
— Because if you have only one, you have only one seat. People are standing in the aisle.
The woman started digging in her bag, pulled out a ticket. One. A standard one.
— No complaints, — said the conductor. — The man may sit. If you want to ride alone, pay for the second ticket or get off. Taxi is your right.
— I will complain! — the woman screeched.
— Go ahead. But meanwhile — follow the rules.
The bus brightened up:
— That’s right!
— Enough of this!
— Respect must be mutual!
An old man from the back seat muttered:
— She doesn’t have high blood pressure, she’s putting pressure on our nerves.
The woman jumped up, holding the bag to her chest like a bulletproof vest, and demonstratively stood in the aisle. She looked out the window, breathing heavily. The seat was free.
I didn’t move. Just kept riding. Trees and poles flashed by outside. People relaxed. Some dozed off, others whispered.
And I thought: strange — so much space around, but so little respect.
