The minute-by-minute breakdown of how the man across the aisle from me on the 6:59 spent his 33 minutes on the train.
7:01 Makes cellphone call, tells pal “I can get to White Plains in 23 minutes.” Accent hard to place, perhaps French. Pink shirt, blond hair, 45.
7:02 Loses call as the train takes off.
7:03 Stares at phone.
7:04 Takes Blackberry out of worn leather briefcase, stares at it.
7:05 Stares at both devices side by side.
7:05 Takes cash out of pocket, buys ticket.
7:06 Stares at Blackberry.
7:07 Taps email into Blackberry.
7:08 Stares at cellphone longingly. Desperately wishes for service.
7:08 This is kind of weird. I’d been listing to the album “Pressure Chief” on my iPod. The second track comes on. It’s called, fittingly, “No Phone”.
Sample lyrics:
No phone No phone I just want to be alone today
No phone no phone
Ringing stinging
Jerking like a nervous bird
Rattling up against his cage
7:08 Has reception, makes call. Tells pal “I left at 6:59, or maybe 6:58, and I’ll be in White Plains at 7:23.”
[Editor's Note: He's wrong. He gets in at 7:30.]
7:10 Hangs up phone.
7:11 Dials Blackberry
7:11:30 Stares at Blackberry, places it to ear. Checks voicemail.
7:12 “No Phone” ends.
7:13 Hangs up Blackberry.
7:14 Pulls out cellphone, tells pal, “We left at 6:59. Or 6:58.”
7:15 Checks email on Blackberry while on cell with pal.
7:17 Puts Blackberry in briefcase on seat next to him.
Over/Under on Blackbery staying in briefcase: two minutes.
7:18 Takes Blackberry out. Still on cellphone.
7:18:30 Puts Blackberry back in briefcase.
Over/Under 1 minute.
7:19 Hangs up cell. Punches in new numbers.
7:20 Hangs up cell again.
7:20:30 Stares at cell, contemplating next move.
7:21 Makes call on cell.
7:21 Blackberry comes out. Left hand holds Blackberry, right hand holds cell.
7:22 Hangs up cell. Calls Blackberry. No answer.
7:23 Sends email on Blackberry.
7:24 Holds Blackberry and cell side by side. Seems to be thinking, if I were trapped on a desert island with only one of you, which would it be? Appears pained by the thought. Cheers visibly after reminding self it was only a hypothetical question.
7:26 Puts Blackberry away
7:27 Puts cellphone away
7:28 Fidgets: Strokes chin, runs fingers through blond hair, using window as a mirror. Straightens tie.
7:30 Takes cellphone out of bag, stares at.
7:31 Stands up, puts coat on, raises collar.
7:32 Exits at White Plains.