BUS STORY # 316 (Just Blew In From The Windy City)

Baseball Cap, a photo taken from the Lids.com website by busboy4 on Flickr.

I’m on the Rapid, sitting in the aisle-facing bench just before the “accordian.” A boarder takes the seat beside me. The guy across the aisle looks at his shoes and says to him, “Those are different.”

He’s right. They’re tan, with black figures printed on them. At first, I think they’re slippers, but they’re not. The rest of him looks normal: blue jeans, black leather jacket, blue baseball cap. He’s got a Blue Tooth clipped to his left ear.

“I’m not from here,” he answers.

“Where you from then?”

He points to the big red C on the front of his blue cap.

“Ah, Chicago. How long you been out here?”

“Not long.”

“Whatcha do?”

“I’m lookin’ for a job.”

“How’s it goin?”

“It’s not. I’m thinkin’ of goin’ home.”

Turns out he’s done security work in the past, including being a bouncer at a bar. He’s not looking to be a bouncer.

The guy across the aisle asks him if he’s tried the public library downtown. Apparently, there is a big turnover in the security personnel down there.

Chicago says the reason for that is the library doesn’t want security to do its job. It wants security to be nice. “You start being nice and the next thing happens is you get your library all shot up.”

Local asks him if he has a resume. He does.

Local says he’s been told employers are now looking for resumes on video.

“Video? Like, of what?”

Of you, says Local. They want to see how you look, how you talk, how you’re dressed, you know?

Chicago shakes his head. Then he asks what he’s supposed to do, drag a video tape of himself around with him everywhere he goes?

Well, probably a DVD. And you’d send it.

Do you have to get someone to make it?

Nah, you can make it yourself.

What’re you supposed to say on it?

Same thing you’d have on your written resume. It’s so they can see you, see how you present yourself.

Chicago shakes his head, doesn’t say any more.

Local says it’s tough out there. He’s lucky he’s got some security experience, there’s bound to be work out there for security.

We’re pulling into the San Mateo station. Local stands up, reaches out a hand, and says his name.

Chicago reaches out to shake and says, “Nice to meet you.”

“Good luck to you, and God bless. It’s tough out there.”

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The photo at the top of this story comes from the Lids.com website. You can see it and 105 others here.