If you were sitting at a railroad crossing in Normal last Friday and had to wait on the train, I’m sorry. It was my fault. I feel bad about it, but I would do it again.

I was going home from a day in Chicago. The train car was about half full, which meant nobody had to share a seat. Across the aisle from me, a young kid, maybe 16 or 17, tossed his oversized duffel bag into the seat and sat down next to it. I wondered why he didn’t load it into the overheard compartment, but he seemed to want it close, draping one arm over it. Maybe there was something of value in the bag. Maybe everything he owned was in there. Maybe he just wanted to signal to others that he wanted to sit alone. Who knows.