Train "friend"

As many of you know, when you take the train to work everyday, you tend to see the same people. This is true for me too. In my section of the platform there is "guy in the cowboy hat" who wears that damn thing every day even though he is all dressed in a suit. His normal seat has recently been stolen by the newcomer "pushy the Man." Pushy the Man has recently found his way to our area of the train and will run over anyone who tries to get in the train car in front of him. Of course he can never quite get passed "Pushy Little Lady" who, as small as she is, never fails to knock people over in order to claim her favorite seat. Seriously, this lady is a trip. Our stop is the first stop on the train which means it pulls in EMPTY!!! Aside from the people working on the train, there is not a single soul on it yet, she finds the need to stampede through people to get her "special" seat.


Anyway, one morning I forgot my wallet in a different purse and only found out after boarding the train that not only did I not have my pass but was unable to buy a ticket because I had no wallet! Fortunately, the conductor is the same woman everyday and she recognized me and let me slide. On my way off the train, a semi familiar train face stopped me and mentioned that he overheard me telling the conductor of my dilemma. He then asked if I needed any money to get through the day. I declined but thanked him for his generosity. I thought it was nice to offer a stranger money but I would NEVER take it.


After that day, I always made sure I said hello to Train Friend. Usually it was only a "good morning" before going back to my paper and i pod. I don't know about you guys, but I like to be left alone in the morning. And therein lies the problem..... Suddenly I cannot shake Train Friend. He used to sit across the aisle from my favorite seat in his own little section, but now he follows me to where I sit. He knows about the The Boy and that we live together, so I don't think he is trying to pick me up or anything, but why follow me around? I have never given him any reason to think I like having to talk in the morning. Just a friendly good morning and sometimes just a nod and a smile. Sometimes he would ask a question about the paper or my sunglasses or some randomn crap and I would respond so as not to be thought rude and that led to small conversations here and there that usually ended in me going back to my reading or putting on my i pod. I mean isn't that enough of a hint that I do not feel like being social!?


How the heck do I get my morning quiet time back without offending him? Should I care about offending this person? I'm usually one to speak my mind very clearly, but he has not been rude or out of line or anything but polite, so I don't want to be tot straight forward and make him feel dumb. Maybe I should just start sitting at the opposite end of the train and hope he doesn't spot me. haha. But if he did is that even more offensive than me just saying LEAVE ME ALONE!?