November 19, 2002 | 9:34 PM

There was a woman on the bus today. Well, that�s not an accurate description. She was more of a girl�at most maybe 17 years old. She was beautiful . On her lap sat a squirming, screaming toddler. I don�t know whether the toddler was hers or not, but I�m guessing she was.

The toddler was screaming bloody hell and fighting to get off the teenager�s lap. I have never heard someone scream in such agony. It was rush hour and everyone on the bus was becoming increasingly annoyed. The teenager with the mewling, kevetching, yammering (but truly adorable) toddler was mighty embarrassed. She looked as though she might join the baby�s crying jag at any moment.

I felt so awful for both of them�the girl and the baby. I always feel helpless when I see things like that happen. I wanted to walk over to her and say, �What can I do to help you?� but obviously there wasn�t really anything I could do. I wanted to offer her something�like a sandwich or a new pair of shoes for the kid. As though that would change the circumstances at all.

I can�t stand being around people who are in pain. The pain of others makes me physically sick. I think I would be a very ineffective doctor or nurse because any time I see a sick child or a terminally ill old gentleman I am overcome with grief.

Sometimes I feel terribly downhearted that there isn�t more that can be done for people in pain. Volunteering a couple of week�s ago made me feel better. And donating $100.00 last week to the United Way made me feel better. But nothing makes me feel better enough about it. I hate passing homeless people in the street. I can�t stand that there are people in this world who are so alone and in need of help and I don�t know what to do to help them.

Man, I�m depressed right now. That poor girl. I hope she has some support.