Open the Emergency Window!

On the bus today towards work….
I feel a tugging on my jacket. ever so lightly. The bus is crowded, so i initially ignore it. Concentrating on the music coming out of my headphones.

Then… the tugging again….

I look at the person tugging… it’s an old lady sitting down… i smile and take off my headphones, and ask “yes????? can i help you?”

in a crooked, old lady-like voice : “Can you be a dear, and open the emergency hatch?”
me : “Emergency hatch?” I ask, pointing upwards at the hatch that exists in the middle of the bus. this is used for if there is an accident or fire, and doors are blocked… people can climb up and out of them to escape the bus.

her : “yes, i can’t breathe, and need air…. it’s stuffy in here… please open the emergency hatch…. ”

Now, keep in mind… EMERGENCY exits of any kind are not normally meant to be tampered with….. breaking them or opening them inappopriately or unauthorized is illegal.

me : “Ma’am… are you sure? I don’t think we are supposed to open them….. ”
her : “Yes, it’s ok, you’re strong… just push hard… it’ll open…. ”

I look at the hatch…. i see it’s locked. and a sign saying “EMERGENCY USE ONLY”.
She starts coughing and asking again “Please… i can’t breathe…. it’s stuffy in here…. ”

I look at the window next to her… and wonder… why not just open the window….

“NO! NOT THE WINDOW… IT’S CHILLY IF IT HITS MY BACK… i need the air to come from above… the emergency hatch!”

I look around… i’m starting to get nervous… everyone’s looking at me…. GREAT! I’m the jerk that’s letting the old lady die….

I decide to go for it… figuring… old lady coughing… about to die… i guess that’s an emergency…. but I decide not to touch the lock.
I know when i was a kid… i saw buses having hatches open partially on top… maybe there was a “opening” that would be slight… yet not count as an official EMERGENCY UNLOCK…. so i decided to just push and see what would happen….
no go. won’t budge….

her : “C’mon! be strong… push hard…. help me … open the hatch!”
Now she’s calling me weak….

I start hitting it hard…. bang bang bang bang… EVERYONE looking at me…. Now i’m the guy that’s trying to break the law.
the bus driver stops the bus… turns around… “WHAT ARE YOU DOING! DON’T TOUCH THE EMERGENCY HATCH!”
I look at him… then the old lady “She can’t breathe! Needs air!!!”
he responds “don’t touch it! it’s for emergency use only!”

she …. ignores him… looks at me… “Please, open the hatch… c’mon… i need the air… it’s sooo stuffy in here… don’t worry what the driver is saying…. ”

I’m thinking… LADY ARE YOU CRAZY!?!?! GETTING ME IN TROUBLE…. I COULD GET FINED FOR THIS….
I keep banging on the hatch…
the driver yells again….

this time… the lady yells back at him “I need to breathe! you want me to die in here????”

FINALLY the hatch opens…. i’m sweating with nervousness now. everyone staring at me…. the bus driver mumbles something… at the lady. at least the problem is no longer mine.

so the moral? save an old lady… and you might go to jail.