"WTF? ANOTHER STORY FROM THE UNDERGROUND"...

Hi Friends!

Today's "WTF?" © stevenn beck

Another story from the underground:

The station: West 4th street, upper level. We were waiting for an E train. Suddenly an announcement over the speakers: "Policemen needed immediately, last car,F train, lower level". The announcer seemed a little stressed (not like the usual, calm announcements that repeatedly inform riders that they are being delayed for lengthy periods of time due to "train traffic ahead". I looked up and down the platform, expecting to see a bunch of MTA and/or NYC cops at any moment burst across the station and run down the stairs to the lower level.

Nothing happened.

A few minutes later came the same announcement. The announcer sounded a little more anxious. Policemen were STILL needed. What the heck was going on down in the last car of the F train? We weren't going to check personally - but if we had any inclination to switch to the F (since there wasn't an E train in sight) the inclination had vanished.

Then: a THIRD announcement, the speaker sounding more desperate. Our minds raced…what the hell was going on down there? Sick passenger...a hold-up..or something even more insidious (like terrorism?) We wondered whether we needed to get out of the station and go somewhere else.>/p>

As we wondered, a C train - which wasn't going to help us - arrived at the station. Two policemen were standing inside as the door opened. Then: a FOURTH - and even more strident - announcement: "Policemen needed IMMEDIATELY, last car, F train, lower level." The two policemen on the C train raised their heads at the sound of the announcement…I expected them to race out of the train, guns drawn, and run down the stairs to the problematic F train - ready for anything! - but they remained inside, looking at one another…until the C train closed its doors and departed. What the -?

A FIFTH announcement - was nothing happening at all downstairs? There were a lot of people now waiting for the trains, people were milling around, looking up at the loudspeaker during each announcement…starting to look very anxious. Two levels down from the E... there was no way to tell why the presence of police were needed.

At no time was the public - you know the public, the people who pay the bills? notified as to the nature of the problem or - more importantly - the severity of the problem and if there was potential danger.

Suddenly an E train barreled into the station. The door opened. Two MORE cops stood there, listened to the announcement…looked at one another….but as we boarded the train my companion walked right up to them and told them that policemen were needed downstairs, there had been numerous announcements….and as she finished speaking came ANOTHER plea from the speakers....how many was this now? - and now the policemen - looking first at each other and then to my companion and myself - had absolutely no choice but to leave the cozy sanctuary of the E train and charge into whatever situation was occurring downstairs.

I suppose we will never know what the hell did - or did not - go on on that evening in the last car of the F train at West Fourth street station…or why so many announcements were needed….or if any other police ended up responding. Or...why the public wasn't provided with an explanation and reassurance.

But I say now to all those who upped the anxiety level for all of waiting for the E train that evening…a big "WTF?"

Bye for now, be safe!

Stevenn