I hitch my handbag a little higher and think murderous thoughts about that weatherman who claimed rain, but isn't that the sun snickering at me behind a pathetically spineless cloud?
3:22. I whip my head around at every sound; every vehicle on God's earth sashays past me, some don't even bother with the up-and-down look of pity. They just move straight on to reflected humiliation. Get a life! they seem to suggest. Get a car! Walk! Do something!
What is it about waiting for a bus that slows time right down to the wettest and thickest of crawls?? In a small village that only contains a telephone booth library and a fish and chips, you stand out when you are stood up.
I grit my teeth. I breathe. I start to walk home, with dignity. I will not under any circumstances, run, even if... just if... that bus shows up now.
shaista i smiled as i read this recalling the oh-so-many-times that i waited for buses that didn't show until i had walked sufficiently far away from the stop that the bus could show up and drive by as if no one was ever waiting half an hour there in the wind-whipping snow-blowing weather!!! now i bicycle - everywhere .... or i bum a ride of people with cars!!! steven
ReplyDeleteSteven, I know that is the smart thing to do! I need to get a bike :) Of course it would help if I learnt how to cycle again... it has been at least 15 years... they say you don't forget, but what if that's old wives tales??
ReplyDeleteShaista,
ReplyDeleteThen you fall off the cycle then you get back on, 'Life's Parable'. Make sure you get a large and sturdy lock and chain because 'Life's sad irony' is that someone will eventually want to rob you of it not knowing or caring how important it is to you.
Well captured! I remember well the stress of waiting for buses and trains. Still, I wish my town in Maine had more public transport. Do get a bike - you never forget, right?
ReplyDeleteOh this is so true. I never feel as down-at-heels and impoverished as when I am queing for the bus in the city with my frizzy hair, counting out my coins. Hee hee. You show such wonderful spirit in your ability to write about something as simple as waiting for a bus and showing the common humanity in it. Loved it!
ReplyDeleteOh embarrassment, yes, sore thumb. Me smiling too. Every second is an eternity when waiting like that. Every sound a promise, then a disappointment.
ReplyDeleteWhat a moment you created here.
I am smiling too! I am in sydney, Australia presently and was trying to get aorund on a bus. Hopelessly lost! You describe exactly how I felt!
ReplyDeletemiss you. ears burning? been talking about you all week!
Oh poor Shaista. Yes, the awful waiting. You captured it perfectly!
ReplyDeleteYour post made me smile nevertheless. The illustrations are great :-)
ReplyDelete