Under the Gun

To learn more I often try a different entrance to the subway. Tuesday I decided to try an unused-by-me-entrance at Christopher St.  The turnstile gates appeared directly at the bottom of the stairs, which I had not expected.  One needs to be able to make a choice about the direction of train travel: north or south.  I figured this choice was on the other side of the turnstile gates.  I run my card through the pay-bar and enter. I am standing on the narrow platform where signs read: north bound train. And I see the south bound, which I need to get to China town, is literally on the other side of the tracks.  To get there from here there is no access.  Since travelling is always about time in one form or another, I realize all I can do is exit, above ground cross the 5 lanes of traffic on 6th Avenue, then head down the stairs to reach the south bound platform. I do all of the above, arrive at the south bound turnstile gate and run my card through the pay-bar.  On the turnstile a little message flashes: just used.  Yes, I get that, I just used it on the other side, but consider this a transfer transaction.  I run it again.  No matter how many times I try, [each time with more conviction and a bit of frantic] it will not register as an entrance signal and the turnstile does not turn.  [you may or may not know, the card reader is the only option to gain entrance, there is no cash deposit, or other  ticketing form.] I hear the train whooshing into the station.  I stare at the turnstile.  Do I climb over or under?  Opting for under, I am no sooner on my hands and knees crawling the small length of the turnstile box when the passengers from the just arrived train, approach the very turnstile that I am using as an entrance.  Because I am on the ground, the turnstile box appears to be empty.  A couple of people approach to use the exit side and all of a sudden aware I am there, are startled.  All I can manage to say, as I crawl through, grab my bag and get to my feet is: Don’t Ask!.  and I hop on the train they exited.