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We’ve only been taking the metro for one day, and we’ve
already had our fair share of success and misadventure.
Earlier in the day, Morgan, my roommate for the Bayeux and
Paris portions of our 14-day travel writing trek across France,
Austria, and Hungary, was nearly pickpocketed on a train by
two young Roma boys, who, in failing to unzip Morgan’s
cross-body, were dragged off the train by their 20-something
female companion—their mothers?—angry that the boys did
not succeed.

Now beneath the streets of Paris, I’m about to have my
own near misfortune, though perhaps luckily, one that’s
pickpocket-free. The rest of the group gets through the
turnstile with ease, but I find myself stuck, unable to swipe
my ticket, which at other metro stations, I’ve been inserting
into a slot. I think I’ve made eye contact with my group leader
who waits with the group on the other side, but I am
mistaken. As the group begins to leave toward the platform, I
realize in a panic that unlike in the morning when one of our
group members, Kieran, became accidentally stuck on the
first train we took, the group has forgotten to account for me.
No one realizes that I am missing. In hope of attracting
someone’s attention, I manage to call out a clear, projected,
“Wait!”

The force of my own voice surprises me, and thankfully, I
am heard. Our group leader, Josh, returns to the turnstile to
inform me that I need to pick a different gate to go through—
one that has a slot in which I can insert my ticket. Crisis is
averted, and we all learn how many people are actually in our
group for this portion of the evening.

When we board our train, I’m able to settle down, and
checking my phone, I realize that depending on how long the
ride takes, our timing might be good enough to see the Eiffel
Tower dazzle at seven. It’s after 6:50. Will we make it?
Perhaps, but I’m afraid that by the time we get off the train
and make our way to the tower, seven o’clock will have
already come and gone and the five minutes of lights will too

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