prizes - 20. on the bus

by harold p sternhagen

being a sequel to fun and games

part twenty of thirty-nine

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maria arrived at the bus station early with a big suitcase. dawn was breaking. a few birds were twittering in the trees and bushes in the overgrown vacant lot behind the station. as maria had told jonathon jones, her friend dooley, who owed her a favor, was going to let her ride free to new york. the bus for new york was parked but there was no sign of the driver. maria could see a few passengers, who had been on the bus before it stopped in jamestown, through the thick window glass. the bus did not look crowded, though some passengers who had arrived and were passing through might be taking a break inside the station. no other passengers were waiting outside the station, beside the bus. maria preferred to get on without other passengers seeing that she did not have a ticket. the driver arrived. it was not dooley. he looked at maria through sleepy eyes. “this is the new york bus, miss. making all stops. that the bus you want?” “yes, it is. i was expecting dooley. what, did he call in sick or something?” “i couldn’t tell you. i just got a call to replace him. i know the route to new york as good as he does. “ “i’m a friend of his. he was going to let me ride free.” “ah. you don’t say so.” “yes, i do say so.” it occurred to maria that the guy could rat dooley out. but he looked like an old timer who couldn’t be bothered with such things. unless he had it in for dooley for some reason. the driver didn’t say anything. maria shrugged. “well, if he’s not here, he’s not here. but he was going to take me.” “no, i believe you.” the driver half-yawned, and scratched his neck. “you can get on.” “thank you.” “but if the bus fills up with paying customers you’ll have to get off. you understand that. or buy a ticket.” “i understand. but it is not likely to do that, is it?’ “it’s not likely, but it happens. when we go through west virginia it sort of becomes the local and stops in every little town and people get on and off and sometimes it fills up. you still want to get on?” “yes.” “all right, get on. that suitcase won’t fit on the rack. leave it there.” “thanks. what’s your name?” “bill.” “thanks, bill, i really appreciate it.” maria climbed the steps into the bus. not a good start! but so far, no harm. the bus was about one third full, with empty seats up and down it. maria wondered if it would be better to sit up front and chat with bill and make him her pal, or sit in the back where he might forget all about her. bill did not seem like a chatty type. she decided to sit in the back. she walked down the aisle and settled into a seat in the back. but before she could open her purse and take out a couple of newspaper clippings she was going to look at - “excuse me, miss, but that’s my seat. you are sitting in my seat.” 21. wind and rain