About an hour ago I was waiting on a packed 59th St. platform for the uptown #6 when an enormous rat decided to stroll along the same platform. There were a couple of screams, and I laughed along with a few other people. I commented, "Wouldn't it be funny if the rat ran into the subway car when the doors opened? Maybe everyone would run out and I'd get a seat?"
Guess what?!? No sooner had I pushed my way into the jam-packed subway and the doors closed, when everyone started to scream. Amazingly, everyone on the car managed to find a spare inch to leap up on the benches. The train conductor opened the doors and came out holding a 2x4. He told everyone to get out of the train. Thankfully the poor rat found his way out too and scooted away, and the conductor got everyone back in and started the train. And I got a seat! Poor rat, he was probably just trying to get a ride uptown.
There were three girls from Perth, Australia near me, taking their first ride on the subway. They all thought it was hysterical, and couldn't wait to get off and update their facebook pages. Welcome to New York!
I'm smiling in WI...