Bus Stop
By Nolene1808
- 188 reads
Grace perched on the edge of the thin wooden bench of the bus stop, looked down at her patent red pumps, crossed her hands on her lap and sighed. She felt relieved now that she was away from everyone shouting and fussing over her. Just a short wait here and she’d soon be off somewhere peaceful with the only person in the world she liked right now - herself. She felt small and a little scared being here on her own with three strangers. There was a pretty view from where she sat - flower beds full of colour over by that wall and grand houses with heavy looking doors across the road. She wondered where the other three people were going.
The man on her left had a kind face. He was reading a magazine and when he smiled, the little lines at the sides of his blue eyes would wrinkle up. Maybe he is one of those people who look at the stars through a telescope, thought Grace. An astron…astrol…hmm. She had heard the word on the tv but couldn’t quite say it in her head. Anyway, maybe he wasn’t going anywhere. Maybe he was just going to sit there until it got dark, then take a telescope out of that bag beside him and look up at the sky. Then he might take out a small notebook and write down the names of all the stars he sees.
The man and woman sitting to her right were holding hands. They both had the most ridiculous white hair. It looked as if someone had made them both exactly the same wig. Maybe they were going to town shopping for the day. To the Buy One Get One Free wig sale. Or going back to the wig maker to get their money back. They were probably going to that big department store with all the different floors, the one that felt like one of those mazes with the tall hedges. You had to stand by your mother’s side for dear life or you would definitely get lost in there. Grace started to feel breathless at the thought of it. She put her hand on her chest and felt her heartbeat.
‘Are you ok?’ The man rolled up the magazine and stuffed it under his left arm as he looked down at Grace.
‘Oh, mmm, yes thank you. I’m Grace. I’m running away, so I’m a bit nervous.’
‘I see, that’s ok Grace. We all get nervous. I’m Sam. Why are you running away?’ He held out his hand and Grace shook it gently. She felt better instantly. ‘Everyone treats me like a child, so I’m getting away. I was actually just making up stories about everyone here, to make the wait more interesting. What do you do Sam?’
‘Well I’m a nurse Grace, but I’d like to know what story you had made up about me!’ He gave Grace a good-natured nudge and she giggled, turning her head away. ‘I…well…I imagined you as a star-gazer. I thought maybe you had a telescope in that bag and that you sat here every day waiting for night-time. I thought you might know the name of every star in the sky.’ Confusion came over Grace’s face suddenly and she looked directly at Sam. ‘Men can’t be nurses,’ she announced.
‘And why not Miss Grace? We can be anything that you girls can be. Have you not seen the news recently about equal rights for boys and girls? Although being a star-gazer sounds a bit more exciting.’ Grace’s face relaxed into a smile, and her cheeks flushed as she pushed her chestnut hair behind her ears.
‘They are fabulous shoes if you don’t mind me saying,’ The wig with the lady underneath it turned to Grace and looked down at the ruby shoes enviously. Grace did not mind one bit. She lifted her two short legs out in front, admiring the shoes as if she had just seen them for the first time, and displaying them for the others to see. ‘Yes, I think so too. They are great for dancing. I love to dance.’ Grace lifted her shoulders up and smiled contentedly.
‘Oh, we love dancing too,’ said male wig. ‘What is your favourite song?’ Grace tapped her finger on her lip and thought about the question seriously. ‘That is a difficult one. There are so many songs I love; not sure I could pick a favourite. You know Crocodile Rock?’
‘That’s an old one!’ said Sam. ‘Aren’t you a bit young to remember that one?’
‘My mum’s favourite.’ Grace smiled. ‘I always picture a crocodile with a guitar.’ They all laughed. ‘We love Jailhouse Rock don’t we Joseph?’ Lady wig moved each arm forward and back in a jiving motion as if the song came on as soon as she mentioned it. ‘Alice just likes me telling her she’s the cutest jailbird I ever did see.’ Joseph winked over at Sam and Grace.
A short round lady with severe hair and cheerful, flushed cheeks suddenly came shimmying over to the bus stop holding two helium balloons. ‘Grace! I thought I might find you here.’ She was trying - unsuccessfully - not to look stressed. ‘Hello Susan.’ wig man and wig woman chorused. ‘Morning Joseph, morning Alice.’ Susan panted.
‘Oh. I’m caught then.’ Grace rolled her eyes.
‘Grace was just telling us about shaking her tail feather here,’ Sam nodded seriously at Susan.
‘Well you can shake whatever you like back at your party then Grace,’ Susan chided. ‘It’s time to cut your birthday cake. Look - I’ve brought you the balloons you liked. You said loved the colours.’
Susan offered Grace the long red ribbon attached to the end of a huge helium balloon in the shape of a number eight. Grace took it reluctantly. ‘It is a great colour. Red is my favourite,’ Grace smiled and turned to the others. ‘Looks like I’m not running away today then. You’re more than welcome to come for cake. There might be dancing too.’
‘Thanks Grace but I’ve got to get home. Have a great birthday.’ Sam squeezed her hand.
‘Cake and dancing sounds alright to me.’ Alice looked at her husband and shrugged her shoulders. ‘What do you think Joseph?’
‘Well we were going to go into town to buy new hats for the winter but I suppose our heads will be warm enough until tomorrow.’ Joseph ruffled Alice’s hair and they both stood up and followed Grace.
‘Don’t forget your other balloon Grace!’ Susan held out a vibrant red bulbous helium zero, and Grace accepted the string into her wrinkled but perfectly manicured hand.
‘They match your shoes and your nail polish!’ said Alice. Joseph paused ‘By the way Grace, what was the story you made up at the bus stop about what Alice and I were doing?’ Grace blushed and picked up the pace. ‘Oh, I can’t remember now Joseph…maybe it’ll come back to me…’
Susan watched after Grace, Joseph and Alice, then turned to Sam - ‘Thank you, Sam, I think it has been a bit overwhelming for Grace today with all the family here for her 80th birthday.’
‘No worries Susan, I was just waiting for Louise to come pick me up after my shift when I saw Grace sitting here. Joseph had taken Alice out for some space as well. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
Susan shuffled off to catch up with the other three and followed them in through the doors of Lakeside Care Home. Sam unravelled his medical journal and continued reading the article where he had left off - ‘Fake bus stop at care home provides safe place for anxious Alzheimer’s patients.’
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Comments
Welcome to ABC Tales! I
Welcome to ABC Tales! I enjoyed this. A really nice twist, and I didn't see it coming at all. In fact, as I read I was just thinking that I wasn't sure about the situation because I didn't know how old the child was. You have cleverly sown little hints along the way so at the end the reader doesn't feel they've been misled. I'm looking forward to reading more of your work.
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