After a horrible day at work yesterday I find myself riding the Metro home. As I sit there with my head in my hands feeling sorry for myself I take notice of a skeletal looking gentlemen in his wheel chair. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the configurations of a Metro bus in Las Vegas - it looks something like this.
The first quarter of the bus is reserved for the handicapped and elderly. When a handicapped person enters the bus they are put in the area and all four of their wheel chair wheels are tethered to what I would describe as long metal pipes (not sure of exact word) and then the pipes are pushed firmly around the wheels in order to secure the chair. I have never given it a second thought until last night.
See, the poor bastard who was tethered into the spot was a quadriplegic and the lever he used to move the chair was underneath his chin. As far as I could tell it was the only part of his body able to move. Well, his stop comes and the driver goes to release him. Unfortunately, his right front wheel is jammed in the pipe and won't release.
The bus driver tries, unsuccessfully, for what I would guess fifteen minutes to free the wheel from the bar. As she is about ready to give up and radio her supervisor I approach and offer to help. Both of us reach down and grab the wheel and lift it. I then kick the bar out of the way. It frees him. I try to slide behind him in order to get back to my seat. He wasn't having it. I am literally chased off the bus as his chair knocks against the sides of the aisle exiting..
I get back on the bus and take my seat. I then look to my right and notice a lady is crying. She says to me - "No one can complain about their life when you see a person like that." I nod my head in agreement and instantly stop feeling sorry for myself.
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