Dear Nathaniel Ford - Lost Boy Edition

Dear Nathaniel Ford,

I've been meaning to write for a while. Last week I really meant to because I saw something that I thought would interest you.

I was riding home on the L and we stopped at Civic Center. We passengers could hear the driver on the radio saying something like, "I see him."
Then we saw the driver leave our train. He walked down the platform and then returned to his spot in the front. More radio muttering. Then he said it again, clear as day. "I see him."
He got out of the train again. All the doors except the one in front were closed. People were saying things like, "For Chrissake" and "Not again" and "F**k this." We'd been stopped for two or three minutes. Not a long time, but we didn't know why.

Then the driver returned to the train with a boy who looked scared and about 8 years old. He brought him into the front and we heard him again on the radio. The driver said, "You ever drive a train?" Then he said, "I got him. On my way to Van Ness."

Then we passengers understood. Our driver had spotted a lost boy. We got to watch the boy reunite with his mom. It was touching. We passengers clucked and wiped little tears from our jaded eyes.

But, Nathaniel Ford, you know what would have made this better?

Just one small announcement from the driver. Something like, "We've got a lost boy and I think I see him. Please be patient while I get him."

Who is going to mutter and swear at that?

But he didn't.

Why aren't Muni drivers more communicative? This could have been a situation that had your customers cheering. Instead we went from irritated to less irritated.

Wouldn't it be great if all the drivers were communicative, Nathaniel Ford?