The 6 O'clock Train
It's 6:30 AM. The train I'm boarding has just left Lenteng Agung railway station. It's still early in the morning, but I can't feel the cool fresh morning air inside this economy train. Instead, the air is hot and musty, caused by the hundreds of passengers crowding the train. Some of them are chatting, playing cards, or even smoking. The train is equipped with fans but most of them are out of order.
More people are boarding the train. With my 1.49 meters, I'm standing cheek to cheek with the other passengers. I'm thimking of how I'll get off later, at my destination. I regret having squeezed myself into this sardine tin. If I hadn't spent the night at my uncle's house, I wouldn't have had to take this horrible train to get to LB-LIA Pengadengan. The worst thing is that I'm taking the oral test today. Luna, my friend in Basic 2, called me last night and said,"What? The 6 o'clock train? That's the worst train during the rush hour. Trust me, I used to live in Bogor, so I know what I'm talking about. You've got to be mentally and physically prepared. Get to the station at least 30 minutes before departure or you won't get a seat. Don't go if you don't get a seat. You'll be squeezed to death. Getting off will be a nightmare, too. And don't your black bag, it's too big, bring the small blue one. And oh yes, watch out for the pick pockets!"
"All right, all right, thanks for your warning, but I'm going to bed now because I've got to get up early tomorrow morning." I know Luna. She won't stop talking if I don't stop her. And she's always exaggerating.
I arrived at the train station five minutes before the train left. The train was already packed. No empty seats. Luna was right, I should have come earlier. Still, I climbed on the train and got only as far as just inside the door. So here I am, cheek to cheek with the other passengers. Sometimes I get pushed from behind, getting me further away from the door. I almost fall down several times since there's nothing to hold on to. Then I find myself in the middle of the coach, far from the exit. I realize getting off is going to be a big problem.
"Ouch!" Someone pushes me from behind. I turn around, it's a vendor. I can't believe it! A vendor going back and forth in a crowded train! He pushes me again and I lunge forward slamming hard against the elderly woman in front of me. Titan, I tell myself, now you're in trouble!
"Hey, you! Don't push me!" Her eyes glare at me. I'm ready to open my mouth:" Get a taxi if you don't want to be pushed!" But I just smile at her sweetly and say,"Sorry."
Looking out the window, I see we are entering Pasar Minggu Baru station now. I have to get ready because the next stop is my stop. But I reel with questions flashing through my mind. How do I get off this train? How do I get to the door? Do I take the right door or the left door? Okay, the right door. It's over there! Okay, let's get going, but OOPS! There are two fat man blocking my way.
"Excuse me, I want to get off at the next station," I say, hoping they will step aside to make way. But they don't budge and I can understand that. the train is so packed we can't even move our hands! I don't give up. I forcefully push my way between the fat men, then through some students carrying big backpacks, then pass some other passengers. They grumble, but I keep going. Kalibata station-my station-is getting closer. Hold it! I'm standing now close to a beautiful lady. I walk very carefully so I won't step on her....
"Hey! Watch where you're going! You're standing on my foot!"
"Sorry, I didn't do it on purpose."
Finally, after another hellish round of struggle, I can see the door. But oh no! What are those two big baskets with papayas doing standing in front of it? To get to the door, I have to jump over those baskets.Can I or will I do that? No time to think about it. The train is already slowing down. I jump over the baskets. A number of my fellow passengers look at me in amazement. Now I'm ready to say goodbye to this horror of a train. I put my hand on the door handle. The door doesn't open. I wait one second, two seconds, three. It's still not open. Some other people try to open it, but the door stays closed. I start to panic. Oh my God! What should I do?
"Use the other door there," a man says. What? I have to go to another door? That means starting another struggle all over again! No way Jose! So, what to do? Easy, just forget about LIA, forget about the oral test. But the voice inside me tells me not to give up: C'mon, Titan, you're a strong girl, you can do it. Give it another shot! Okay, I'll do it. Just watch me. Here I go again.
For the second time, I jump over the baskets and squeeze my way back through the throng. I meet the beautiful lady again (Yeah, right, I trample her feet again!), the students and their backpacks, the two fat men, and the vendor. But this time they don't push me. It's my turn: I push them!
Thank God I finally make it. The door is just in front of me. I'm exhausted, I'm sweating and my clothes are crumpled. I promised I'' never ever take this train again. I'm lucky. Though I miss Kalibata station, I still can get off at Cawang station, which is not far from LIA Pengadengan. I jump behind an 'ojek' driver and am raced to my destination. On my way to the classroom, I meet Luna.
"Titan, are you okay? You look awful!"
"It's a long story. How was the test? The examiner?" I talk in gasps.
"Don't worry, the test is easy, piece of cake, I could answer all the questions. But the examiner! Wow! He's cool, reminds me of Keanu Reeves. His name is Mr. Gegel. He's very handsome. He's..."
"Thank's Lun, but I gotta go now. Catch you later! I'll call you." I really don't have time to listen to her chatter now.
"Good morning, sir."
"Morning. Please come in and have a seat." He smiles at me warmly. Luna is right. He's very handsome and nice. In fact, he's more handsome than Keanu.
"My name is Magellan but my students usually call me Mr. Gegel."
"I'm Eta Carina. My friends call me Titan." I try to hide my nervousness and talk calmly.
"Well, Titan, may I see you student card?"
I open my bag and look for the pocket diary in which I always keep my student card. It's not there! Oh God! I remember now that last night before Luna called, I had put the diary in my black bag! And this is my blue bag!
"Well?" Mr. Gegel looks at me expectantly."You do have it with you, don't you?
"Er... no, sir, I'm afraid not," I stammer.
"Well, Titan, you know the rules at LIA. You're not permitted to take the test if you don't have your student card with you. I'm afraid you'll have to take the make up test."
"Yes, sir, I know." I can say no more. What a bad day, Titan!.....NR