My first week at work was uneventful, EXCEPT! On Thursday I managed to pull a boner and completely mangle myself. I once had a conversation with someone about how you know you’re not a little kid anymore when you can unknowingly cut yourself and find the blood all scabbed up much later with a, “Huh, how did that happen?” I thought of that conversation on Thursday.
I had one of those mystery cuts on the tip of my right pointer finger, I noticed, as I stood waiting for my evening bus. “Weird,” I thought. “I must have dragged it across something sharp.” It was pretty shallow and obviously hadn’t bled much. My bus came and I forgot about it. I felt my bag vibrate and fished around in my pockets for my phone–it was probably the big kid saying she had gotten on her bus as well.
I felt something on my middle finger of my right hand that felt like an itchy shock. Another tiny slice! It was bleeding a little as well. I began gingerly feeling around the new bag The Man had issued me to hold my laptop. My phone buzzed again and I went for it: ZAP! I fully gashed open my left middle finger.
I stupidly watched blood drip down my middle finger and begin pooling in my left palm. I had–nothing. Not a tissue, napkin, sock, or even a sweater. I was contemplating using my coat when the lady across the aisle handed me a big wad of tissues.
“Thanks!” I said. “I think there’s a sharp zipper or something…”
“There’s a knife sticking out of your pocket,” she said.
Oh god. I brought a paring knife in my bag on Wednesday and completely forgot about it, and it came loose from the pocket it was in, or maybe cut through the pocket, and I was repeatedly cutting myself with it. I was officially the dumbest person on the bus, and a creep to boot, because only creeps bleed profusely on the bus without even realizing it. Was I on the PCP? Did my elevator not go all the way to the penthouse? I imagined people were edging away from me.
I applied pressure by clenching a fist and noticed that I had blood between every single one of my fingers of my left hand, as if I had just ripped out my enemy’s still-beating heart and was about to take a juicy bite out of it. A lady in the back corner told me to apply pressure to my wrist.
My face was hot and I tried to make myself invisible. I accidentally made eye contact with the teenaged boy sitting across from me who finally looked up from his phone. He took one look at me and went right back to his phone. “Crazy old lady on the bus bleeding from hand” I imagined him snappchatting at his friends. I had to stifle the urge to flee the bus and get out into the cold air and cry a little, because your first week is always a long week and I was tired as well as embarrassed.
I could have a fresh start on a new bus, the next bus, I reasoned. But then it would take me much longer to get home because it wouldn’t be an express bus and what if I needed stitches or something? Or a brain transplant, at least.
So I got home and sat on the couch and felt sorry for myself. Nothing tires me out like embarrassment, I think. And now I have a Zorro “z” on my middle finger and something to cringe about when I remember it.
Here’s me and my sister with The Tigerlillies from last Wednesday. She got the DJ Morgan discount. It is fun to go out with my sister, especially when it involves an early evening!
I was in that exact scenario (first week of new job, repeatedly bleeding on public transit due to my own foolishness) only it was BART and a Bowie knife all rattling around out of its leather sheath in my purse for no particular reason. It had likely been there for months. In conclusion, you met the Tigerlilies and I am JELLY.
Public transport is only unfortunate in its ability to expose one to situations like these. I’ve had similar public transport situations except with snot and phlegm. I’ve tried to be the adult with the packets of tissue always at hand, but it hasn’t taken hold.
You and your sister are so sweet together. And so chic. I adore your clutch and your sister’s necklace.
I’m sorry you were embarrassed, but that is funny and you know it. You may wish you had yourself for a neighbour, but imagine riding the bus with a spectacle like that. Fun all around!
P.S, I know you are into the whole Whole30 thing, and there’s this recipe I love that I am sharing with everyone willing to listen. This is the best goddamn thing. http://www.onelovelylife.com/chicken-zucchini-poppers-gf-df/
Once when I was on a bus, a lady standing not too far from me had diarrhea (not the good kind that stays in your clothes, the bad kind that trickles as soon as it escapes) and it ran down her legs. She was wearing shorts and sandals, so there was NO containment at all.
Honestly, there was a long moment of silence, as everyone who noticed the diarrhea processed what was happening and pushed through the disbelief and disgust. Then there was a chorus of “EEEEW, and gross, and WTF”.
Originally she seemed to ignore the rivulets of liquid poop, but at the next stop she bolted for the door. I’ve never seen people move so fast. The rest of the passengers got out of her way like prey animals being chased by a cheetah. By mutual consent, we all marked the zone the diarrhea had contaminated, and gave it wide berth. We also helpfully told new passengers that there was diarrhea on the floor.
Having peed myself on the bus once (because the washroom at the mall was closed and there was no other bathroom that I could find) I felt relieved (heehee) that I had lost my title of “Person Who Did The Most Embarrassing Thing on a Bus”, but I felt really sorry for her all the same.
So blood? Meh. If I had seen your hand, I would have offered you a selection of towels and tissues (which I always carry because, obviously) given you a bandaid, and gone back to my happy place.
I realize that the point here is the knife in the pocket, but HOLY SHIT you look amazing. I love that picture so much; you look HEALTHY. :)
Yep you look amazing! So glam! Also, at least the visible blood was coming out of your hand and not some OTHER place, if you know what I MEAN. I have been there and it’s not pretty.
fridythirteen: I am actually pretty happy that this has happened to someone else, though I am sorry it happened to you. I saw the Tigerlilies more than ten years ago when they did Shockheaded Peter, did you see that?
Dotty: That recipe looks good! Kind of like another thing I like, which is the salmon patty. MMM. It was kind of funny but I really was dying at the time.
Binky: OMG HILARIOUS. I love “the good kind” of pants gravy.
Mir: Thanks, I think I am more so! Not just faking it. ;)
Dorrie: Lucky for me I’ve been home lately when I’ve started bleeding from the ol baby cannon. Thanks!