Bus Stop

Bus Stop

By Steve Laker

Eric knew it must be up ahead somewhere. How different things looked on
foot, and in the dark. He often drove down this lane, but always during
the day. This was probably the furthest he'd walked for as long as he
cared to remember, but his legs shuffled trustily beneath him and he
had his faithful stick to steady him. It was a new moon, the night was
almost pitch dark, and the wind blowing fine, misty rain in his eyes
made it difficult to see ahead.

The brow of the hill ahead began to glow a dull white, as if about to
give a sign. The glow intensified and the light was scattered by the
damp air, before concentrating into two beams as the headlights of a
car appeared over the hill. The car approached slowly, the driver
obviously cautious in these hazardous conditions. It's lights picked
out a lone female figure, standing on the side of the road, then
passed. Eric turned and watched the car move away, it's red rear lights
intensifying as it braked at the corner ahead.

Eric approached the only other person now in this cold, dark and lonely
lane. She was a young woman, probably only in her early twenties. Had
she not been there, he would have walked straight past the bus stop, as
the sign to indicate its existence was mostly obscured by overgrown
foliage. In all the times he'd travelled down this lane, he never knew
it was even there. He smiled at the woman, clutching her long black
coat around her to protect her from the elements. Her peroxide blonde
hair was damp and clung to her face, and her make up was starting to
run. An otherwise attractive girl, they didn't look like that in his
day. He tried to think of something to say, but somehow "waiting for a
bus?" seemed a little daft. He had no need to worry. "Hello", she said,
and her crimson lips formed a smile.

"Hello", said Eric. "Been waiting long?"

"Three weeks".

"Three weeks?" Eric's tone was exaggerated for disbelieving
effect.

"Not here." The woman laughed. "That's how long it's taken me to get
everything in place so I can go. How about you?"

"A bit of a spur-of-the-moment thing really. I must admit, I'm quite
excited. I'm Eric by the way." He extended his hand.

"Me too." She stopped and chuckled, rolling her eyes up into her head,
as she realised what she'd just said. "Excited, I mean. My name's
Tanya." She darted her hand quickly out of her coat pocket, gently and
quickly shaking Eric's before hurriedly returning it to the
pocket.

The two of them stood silent for a while, each wondering what to say
next. Eric wondered if they might have anything at all in common, as he
was probably four times Tanya's age. "So, what was it that you needed
to sort out?" Eric asked.

"Oh, a few things. I had to make sure mum and dad were okay, and they
came round in the end. I don't think a couple of my friends wanted me
to go either, but they're okay now. Gary was the hardest one."

"Husband?"

"No, boyfriend. He's got his hands full with Gemma, our two-year-old,
but he seems to be coping. I suppose it takes different people
different times."

"It does. I'm on my own, so I didn't have all that. I just decided to
go, just like that. Your family and friends are all local?"

"Yes, we're all from around here." Tanya moved her head in an arc, as
if to demonstrate the boundaries of a family territory. Just then a
light illuminated her face. Eric turned to look behind him as a car
rounded the corner. It slowed down as it approached them and the driver
wound down the window.

"Need a lift anywhere?" The warmth from the heated interior of the car
wafted out into the cold air. Eric leaned down.

"No thanks. Our bus should be here soon."

"Okay, if you're sure". The driver wound up the window and drove off,
up the hill.

His rear lights disappeared over the brow of the hill when the fading
red colour of the mist turned pink and then white as another vehicle
climbed the other side of the hill. Gradually it appeared as many
windows, lit from the inside emerged over the hill.

"A double-decker." Exclaimed Eric. "Must be a popular trip." The bus
lit up the hedges on either side of the lane as they both watched it
draw nearer.

"Trip of a lifetime, so I've been told." Tanya's words appeared in the
air as the headlights of the bus caught the mist from her mouth. The
bus stopped, and the doors swung open. The driver smiled and announced
"Uptown" as they boarded.

Inside, the bus was scrupulously clean. They took their seats and Eric
watched, excited, as the road was lit up before them and they rounded
the corner. "There'll be someone waiting for you then?" Asked
Tanya.

"Yes, my wife", replied Eric as they passed the mangled wreck of his
car.

? Steve Laker, 2000