Bus Girls (to be continued..)

The 402 was late, 20 minutes late. Where was Jed? Katy stood
immobolised by the cold, her cheeks reddened and her nose dripping. She
pulled her scarf tighter to her, and remembered suddenly something that
brought a large grin to her face. Mr McCormack, who had also been
waiting for Jed, though he didn't know that to be his name, impatient
and tired wondered what kind of naughtiness brought such a smile to a
young girls' face.

Katy was 17 and studied hard at school. She was no straight A but she
achieved good grades. Teachers were happy, parents were happy. No cause
for concern, no secret urgent talks. Katy was a good girl. Daughter to
be proud of. Mr and Mrs Coffin worried about their daughter for she was
'at that age' and had as yet to meet her first love. Being school
sweethearts themselves, they knew all about the strength and power of
young love.

Jed was 33, a ginger, he smoked 40 a day (not including his evenings in
the pub!!) He was over 16 stone, and to the untrained eye (many of
Katy's friends) he was a complete waster. Married at 19, and seperated
at 21 Jed had grown up fast. He had two young children to support. The
wages of a bus driver were what attracted him to the job, though of
course that wasn't what he had told his boss.
"I love to see people arrive at their destination happy, and to know
I've played a part".
Angela, his then wife, had 'rewarded' him after he received the call
with the job offer. Jed, who had suffered largely from a very
restricted sex life since the marriage, had thanked the gods for giving
him the job!

Jed turned the corner swiflty watching out for all the mad pedestrians
who always seem to cross the road just before a bus.