Commuting with Nature

Air supremacy has long since been something that humans have strived for.  Inherently relegated to the ground we, as a species, were not meant to inhabit the skies and yet there we are. Technology has allowed us to conquer our natural shortcomings and travel, communicate, and fight with each other far above land, sea, and even Earth’s atmosphere.  It is when we are removed from these technologies and faced with something inherently capable of flight, something armored by nature to rule the skies, that we realize how woefully ill-equipped we are. 

No one could be sure when it had flown in but the buzz of its wings and the ensuing panic were unmistakable. A call to arms, commuters rolling up old PowerPoints and copies of last week’s Economist or drawing epipens from their sheaths.  Tracking the winged beast was as simple as tracing a bull's path through a china shop.  Everywhere it flew there was panic and destruction as passengers ducked, shuffled, and swatted in vain.

The conductor made an announcement, foregoing the loudspeaker for fear that it might unnerve passengers further, encouraging anyone who wished to take a seat in another car to please do so.  Several passengers seized this opportunity muttering about bee allergies as they excused themselves.  Many intrepid commuters, though, remained.  Enraptured by the glory and honor that would fall upon them should they vanquish this formidable adversary.  Others simply couldn't be bothered to get out of their seats at 6 am.  They remained stoic in their resolve to sleep awkwardly through the ordeal contributing only small drops of saliva to the efforts.

The screeching of the train’s weathered metal wheels offers hope to those still fighting the bumblebee. A stop, the last stop until the final stretch to the city, meant the doors would open and the bee could fly free into the outside where it belonged. The doors opened, breathing ceased, someone even tried to fan it in that general direction.  All to no avail.  This bee, stars in its eyes and opportunity in its heart, was headed for the big city and no one was going to persuade it otherwise. 

As the train reached the final station and commuters lined up to exit the bee buzzed quickly overhead and out onto the platform where it continued on its journey through the wonderfully mind numbing monotony that is the daily commute.