The Bus

By Kailey Rose

There’s this girl who gets on the same bus as me. She sits in the second seat from the door. She makes every morning beautiful, whether it is or not. And she turns my world into music.

Boom ba-doh badoodle-ay—the bus slows to a stop and the doors open—shhhh-boom—then close—shhh-boom—again.

She walks up the aisle, a brunette in a green dress suit, and sits in the second chair from the door.  

What a dream. I want to promise her every paradise in the world. I want to be the one who gets to whisper in her ear and receive sweet nothings back. She looks up at me, the bus doors open—shhhh-boom. Her beautiful eyebrows raise as her green eyes look straight at me. You’re staring, you creep! I panic.

“Hu… Hi,”  I manage.

She gives a small smile and looks away.

It’s my stop. I force myself out of my seat and my eyes away from the glorious creature. I’ll see her again.  I walk past the noise of the engine—boom ba-doh, ba-doo ba-doodle-ay—make it off, and the doors close—shhhh-boom. They get stuck and try again, the engine still roaring—boom ba-doh, ba-doo ba-doodle-ay, sh-boom.

I kick myself as the bus drives off.

I stand at the bus stop, trying to build up the courage to talk to her. Why is this simple task making me quiver like a little kite? The bus pulls up and stops in front of me. The doors open—shhh-boom—and close—shhh-boom. I sit across from her usual seat.  How do I start a conversation with her, one that can’t last too long? My stop’s right after she gets on. How do I say all the things I want to?

First, small talk. My thoughts tangle as the bus sputters to a stop—dat-dat-dat-dat-dat-duh.

Oh, to see her again, to hear her voice. I stare intently at the doors, waiting for her. Shh-boom—they open and she walks up, offering her sweet smile to the driver. Shh-boom.

I’m trying not to stare this time, but it’s hard. I’m trying to think of something to say, but what? I’m trying to be brave, but she’s looking at me. O my heavens and Earth, she’s looking at me, her eyes are staring at me. Say something, you fool. Say something!

“Hu— Hello,” I stutter. My heart races, thud-phew thud-phew thud-phew.

Her eyes refocus as if she’s just noticed me now.

She wasn’t looking at me. I glance over my shoulder. A brightly colored poster advertising a Spanish concert hangs by my head. She was looking at the poster.

I attempt to regain my composure, to say something else before it’s too late, but the bus slows and the doors open—shh-boom. I walk off the bus, and the doors close—boom errrck-boom.

I steal one more glance at the bus and see her looking out the window, this time at me.

Nonny ding dong, alang alang alang! I bolt upright from my bed. My alarm is still blaring as I look to see the time. My heart spikes up to my brain and I jump into action. I’m late. I get dressed, run out the door, across the street to the stop, and breathe. I made it. It’s okay, it’s okay.

There is the bus—shh-boom. The doors open, and I step on, away from the engine’s gurgling noise—ba-doh, ba-doo ba-doodle.

Okay, today’s the day. The day I say something other than, “Hello.” The doors close—shh-boom.

I shut my eyes and begin to rehearse what to say. My name’s Cory. What’s yours? Would you like to have lunch, catch a movie, go for a walk, hang out, something, anything?

I open my eyes and turn to see her as she’s finding her seat. I hadn’t felt the bus stop or heard the door. The door shuts—shh-boom.

Say something. My mind goes blank and my mouth glues shut. Say something, now, you fool. She is right there, right across from me. The only reason I took the bus today was to see her, and I can’t even muster the courage to say “Hi.” No, you’re not letting her get away without saying anything. Now speak.

“Hi,” I blurt out. Too loud. Her head snaps up, and she looks at me. My eyes grow wide. You were supposed to say “Hi,” not shout at her.

The bus slows. The doors open—shh-boom. I get up and head for the street. I turn on my heels. “Goodbye.” And I jump off the bus as if it might explode.

The doors close again—boom ssssh-bam.

Nonny ding dong, alang alang alang!

My alarm. No! Not again.

I get dressed and dash out the door, across the street to the stop like every day. But the bus is early, or I’m late. As I run to the doors—shh-boom—the bus pulls away—ba-da, ba-doo ba-doodle-ay.

“No!” I run through crowds on the sidewalk. I manage to keep it in my sight, and after four blocks it putters to a stop—dee-oody-ooh.

At last. I jog to the doors, panting. Shh-boom—they open for me. I start to get in when I spot her walking up on my left. She stops a foot away from me, waiting for me to get on the bus.

I stand there in her way, building up my courage and the atmosphere of awkwardness. Speak! “Wo—Would you like to go out with me?” I ask, trying to achieve a steady heartbeat.

Her head cranes and a nervous smile appears on her face. “Uh… Desculpe, eu não falo inglês.”

I stare at her. What language was that?

Shh-boom.

Can you guess which song from the 1950's inspired this story? Share in the comments!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kailey Rose is an amateur writer, who is trying to map out the worlds in her head. She has graduated high school and is working part time. She enjoys stories and sees them as an enriching part of life. Rose hopes to entertain and maybe even encourage others with her work.

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