Screw that

Setting the scene: I work in Melbourne, which is the capital city of our state. I live a 60 minute train journey away down the coast. I catch the train to and from work every day. Yesterday i left the city a couple of hours earlier than normal, after an appointment i had ended early. I got on the train which was semi-full and took a seat. I ended up in the funny seats at the back of the carriage where there are 4 seats across, effectively travelling 'sideways' and opposite those four, were 5 seats. Three guys occupied these, one at each end and one in the middle. I sat at one end of the 4, there was already a lady sat at the other end. Hence, there were 2 spare seats between us. Confusing you yet?


I fell asleep rather quickly, as i normally do, while holding my coat and backpack in my lap. 30 mins into the journey, the train stops to pick up more people, and i'm awoken by someone sitting down on my coat (which must have drooped over to the seat next to me) and pulling it out of my hands. No problem, sit up straight, gather belongings more compactly in my lap, smooth hair, skip ipod song and try not to get in anyone's way. As i skip the song, i can hear what she's saying, she's calling down the carriage to what i imagine is her husband, and he comes down to our seats, and squeezes into the 4th seat. This lady i imagine is about 40 years old. She is still talking, and since i have a slow song on play i can still hear every word she's saying. The comments were in such an aggressive tone, and some were as follows:


'These city workers, think they're so fuc*ing good, taking up all the seats, think we can just stand like we're dogs, just sleep all over the seats, f*ck that just because they are working in the city they treat other people like crap, they think they're so good dressed up in their clothes like their going to a funeral or something, f*ck that society is so f*cked up'


I could feel my face getting so red with anger. Now, they were dressed in sweat pants and they smelt like alcohol, so perhaps she felt intimidated? I SO wanted to say something back at her but i couldn't get my words into order so it wouldn't sound like i was being stuck up. Here's the thing, we'd been on that train for 30 mins, why would i be rubbing elbows with the lady who was already sitting there when there's no one else in the other 3 seats. Why would the 3 guys across from us do the same? Why WOULDN'T we fall asleep in 30 mins, sorry for not anticipating you getting on the train and cosying up earlier. She did not ask anyone to move down so she could sit next to her husband, if she HAD of i'm sure anyone would have moved for her. What right does she have for making me sound like a bitch when i give up 2.5 hours of every day in travel time going to WORK?! As if i want to be on that train every day, as if i want to be stuck sitting next to people like her hoping my coat doesn't need dry cleaning to eradicate her odour from it. I'm sorry if my outfit offends her too, you don't think i'd rather be wearing sweats than stockings, high heels and stuffy blouses?!


Society IS screwed up lady, but don't forget -  IT WORKS BOTH WAYS!!