“Card not read, try again”
Ever run for the “T” before? (For you non-bostonites, that’s our subway.)
I have. Almost every day; at 9:48 am, exactly, every, single, day, no matter what time I wake up.
Every morning, I walk to the station with coffee in hand, calm, happy to be somewhat awake. When I hear the train arriving, I run, along with a hoard of late students, towards the loud screeching, jerking train. As my bag bounces off my back, 15 pounds of (expensive!) coursepacks and one oversized laptop, my coffee spills all over the ground. Yet, I run harder. I hit the gate, frantically searching for my wallet; looking the plastic card with the animated guy that means absolutely, freakin’ nothing: Mr. Charlie. Who are you?!
I whip it out… and tap it. The wallet, that is.
*wha wha wha*
“Card not read, try again”
I try again… but no response. Too soon. The “high tech” gates take a few seconds to reset. Somehow, they assume it takes you longer than 5 seconds to read those 5 horrid words. So I wait the obligatory 5 seconds, which feels like 10 as the crowd behind me gets impatient. I try again…
*wha wha wha*
“Card not read, try again”
As I curse under my breath (and, by “under my breath”, I mean at the top of my half-asleep vocal chords – it’s like puberty all over again), with the train sounding the chime to close its doors, I give up on this gate and try the next one. I’m blessed with a new message…
*wha wha wha*
“Card already used.”
Welcome… to the MBTA.
Filed under: Boston, Random | 2 Comments
Tags: Charlie Card, MBTA
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Recent Comments
Pauline on happy national day, mothe… Eloise on happy national day, mothe… Eloise on wo de fangjian / my room ruirui on wo de fangjian / my room Keiana on ni hao beijing!
“i can’t do it, i can’t dooo it!!!!!”
*drops wallet*
wha wha wha wha…..
I also hate it when you do everything correctly, but somehow, the gates still honk at your as you’re going through. Watch out, she might have somehow sneaked through!