THOUGHTS

That’s How Nina Took the Bus

When you live with someone on the bus, for four days a week, you really have to get along.

Nina raced to the bus stop. It was 7.50 am. The mornings were much colder, so much that she wouldn’t wish this cold on her worst enemy, shivering and waiting for the next bus. As she approached the traffic light, she felt at ease. The bus stop was just across the road.

Darn it! She missed the bus again. As she waited for the pedestrian light to turn white, bus 17S came cruising and cruised away. Now she had to bear this damn cold. “I am sure I left home at 7. 45am. I cannot bear this cold anymore.” She made a mental note to leave at 7.35 am the following day.

As she stood there shivering, her glasses fogging up and her fingers numbing, she almost cried. The universe must have seen her invisible tears cos the next 17S rode up. She got on the bus, greeted the driver, and paid the damn fare. She then found a seat quickly.

Nina hated those fares. Because she had to take the bus every day, each trip depleted her credit. Why on earth is the fare over $3? It’s too much, she thought. Each fare only covers all trips done within 2 hours. Outside of that, she pays another $3.

She wasn’t sure how to game the system. A monthly transit pass made sense if she worked every day, including weekends. Savings was also possible if she never traveled outside her region. Nina sometimes visited friends and family in other regions over the weekend. So both options were out. The only option left was for Nina to walk, but she knew it would be counterproductive cos she would be too fagged out when she got to work.

Now on another matter; why do people wear their masks below their chin? Are they just for show? They need a lecture or two from Jessica Wildfire. The public address system states that masks are to be continually worn over the nose and mouth and cover the chin. It also states that it should not be removed to eat, drink or talk on the phone unless medically indicated. You need to see this senior who yanked his mask off and was chewing on a bag of chips. Some people are just unbelievable.

Nina’s bus pulled to a stop at the transit station. She got out and quickly skimmed for her next bus. Ha, there it was; the bus 3E. Nina was excited. She did not have to pay another fare as she was within the 2-hour limit. Nina quickly walked to the back of the bus. She wanted to be seated before the bus moved so that she wouldn’t swerve and be clinging to bus poles. Second, she hated giving up seats in front when seniors or families with kids got on the bus. It was a bit unsettling.

Bus 3E took Nina to work. This route was a popular one and so the bus was frequently crowded. There was no social distancing on the bus. There also were no hand sanitizers at the door. The only prevailing rule was mask-wearing and Nina knew well some people couldn’t do that well. The only comfort she had was that she sat by the window for better ventilation, and this was her last bus ride before work.

Nina’s eyes wandered to another corner of the bus. She saw a young lady sipping her cup of coffee. Her mask was off. “People are unbelievable,” she muttered. She heaved a sigh of relief as the bus approached her last stop. She got off and skipped away. “It’s probably time to drive,” she thought to herself.

When you live with someone on the bus, for four days a week, you really have to get along.- Miranda Lambert

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