The first time you use it, you’ll feel like a fraud. You’ll tap it on the reader, it beeps green, and a little bit of your soul says, “I got away with it!” You haven’t. You’ve earned it. The person next to you, paying full fare, is probably jealous. They just won’t admit it. Ride the bus to the end of the line. Go to Richmond Park and stare at a deer. Get off at a random stop and discover a café you’d never have visited.
Remember: The card is not valid before 9:30 AM on weekdays. Do not try to tap on at 9:29. The machine will reject you with a harsh beep, like a disapproving headmaster. Wait the extra sixty seconds. Use that time to appreciate that you’re the one with the free pass, not the stressed commuter in the suit juggling a coffee and a laptop. You’ve got this.
