LOST WORDS ON THE METRO
Malek crossed the Plaça de Catalunya in the intense heat of the afternoon. The city square was teeming with tourists and locals and he found the noise startling. Back home in the 5 countryside, life moved at a gentle pace. 1 On any given day, he never saw more than a handful of people. When Malek had announced his intention to leave his home state for the first time and travel alone to Barcelona, everyone tried to talk him out of it, but he was determined. A It was a 10 dream since childhood to visit the great football stadium, Camp Nou. And now, in his early 20s, he was making it happen.
Malek slowly made his way across to the underground station and checked to find the 15 platform for the Green Line. 2 He checked his phone for the eighth time to confirm the route: northbound to a stop called Les Corts, then walk about ten minutes to the stadium. Amplified by the enclosed space, the commotion of Plaça de Catalunya was nothing compared to the clamour in the underground. Malek was swept along with the crowds and eventually fell into 20 step with those heading in the same direction. As they descended the stairs to the tunnel, their footsteps echoed. Malek was relieved to reach the platform at last.
In the interest of safety, he stood back from the 25 track, but it was a poor choice of spot. Inadvertently, he was blocking the path of commuters milling around the platform, bolting this way and that, colliding, heads down, wordless. With some effort, Malek dragged himself towards the wall, and waited there. 3 He watched the hordes and wondered about their lives. Did they always dash everywhere? Suddenly, an express train thundered past and Malek felt its wind in his eyes. Just as quickly, 8it was gone. The next train would be Chis.
35 More people crammed onto the platform. The crowd inched closer to the yellow line as the train appeared and gradually rumbled to a stop. When the doors slid open, the passengers alighting had to elbow their way through 40 the sea of people entering the carriages. The fact that there wasn’t a better system was Dsomething that surprised Malek. 4 He assumed he’d be unable to board this train and would have to wait for the next one, but somehow he managed to squeeze on at the last minute. The doors slammed shut and the train lurched forward.
45 If Malek thought the platform was cramped, the carriage seemed worse. Every seat was taken, as well as every square inch of standing room. E Those who could reach overhead and grasp the handrail to steady themselves were lucky. 5 Many, including Malek, struggled to keep their balance with nothing at all to hold onto.
50 Unaccustomed to the motion, Malek faltered once or twice, then stood firm and stabilised himself. As the train approached the next station, those leaving began to shift in preparation for their exit. Malek wondered how they might 55 navigate their way to the doors, but astonishingly they forged ahead and the carriage emptied slightly before filling up with new passengers.
Malek looked across at the Metro map above a window and counted the stops until Les Corts, 60 even though he had already counted F them umpteen times. The train chugged along and he was pleased to find his footing and feel anchored. He began to relax into the journey, giving himself licence to look around and take 65 in his surroundings. Most people were scrolling up and down their phone screens, many wearing headphones or ear buds. Malek noticed an older couple who were sitting down facing him. 6 They reminded him of his grandparents back on the farm. The old man was reading a novel while his wife 70 sat serenely, a soft expression on her face. Unexpectedly, the man glanced up at Malek and caught his eye. Malek was embarrassed, worried it might seem as if he had been staring. But the man nodded politely and Malek nodded back, 75 blushing a little.
The journey continued. Malek was now in the rhythm of it, the same routine at one station and then Ganother as people got on and off the train, dispersing on the platform or settling into 80 some corner of the carriage. Three stops from Les Corts, the old man and woman stood up to leave. 7 As they passed Malek, they smiled at him. He desperately wanted to say something, to make some friendly comment, but he was strangely lost for words. Then the doors closed 85 and they were gone. Malek turned and saw that the old man had forgotten his book. It was still on the seat.
Questions:
1. Where was Malek crossing in the intense heat of the afternoon?
“Malek crossed the Plaça de Catalunya in the intense heat of the afternoon.”
2. What had always been Malek’s dream since childhood?
“It was a dream since childhood to visit the great football stadium, Camp Nou.”
3. How many times did Malek check his phone for the route?
“He checked his phone for the eighth time to confirm the route.”
4. What was the stop called where Malek needed to get off?
“…northbound to a stop called Les Corts, then walk about ten minutes to the stadium.”
5. Why did Malek drag himself towards the wall?
“With some effort, Malek dragged himself towards the wall, and waited there.”
6. What surprised Malek about the metro system?
“The fact that there wasn’t a better system was something that surprised Malek.”
7. What happened when the train doors shut?
“…but somehow he managed to squeeze on at the last minute. The doors slammed shut and the train lurched forward.”
8. What did Malek notice most people were doing inside the carriage?
“Most people were scrolling up and down their phone screens, many wearing headphones or ear buds.”
9. What reminded Malek of his grandparents back on the farm?
“They reminded him of his grandparents back on the farm.”
10. What did Malek see after the old man and woman had left the train?
“Malek turned and saw that the old man had forgotten his book. It was still on the seat.”
