Post by thestoryteller20 on Nov 21, 2005 10:37:47 GMT -5
For three years I have been the driver on Bus #43 which is the downtown Seattle free zone. Folks can ride for free to see tour Pioneer Square, the Seattle Underground Tour. They can switch to the Seattle Monorail and spend the day at the Seattle Center, as well as walk along the waterfront. It's a job that I enjoy, though I don't get a chance to talk much with my rider's. Time is better spent, watching out for the driver's to my left and right, who are impatient, cutting in front of me, or changing lanes without first signaling. As if I can stop a forty foot bus on a dime!
I've been a bus driver for 28 years, but this story is not about me, it's about my last two passengers who ride upon occasion towards the end of my last run. At first, I thought I was seeing things, for I didn't remember them ever walking on the bus, or exiting my bus. My next reaction was one of shock, surprise and uncertainty, when they one evening, vanished as I looked back in my mirror. But
now, almost a year later, I accept them, a mother and her child, as they chat to each other, sometimes looking towards me, and smiling. I even recall her little one waving her tiny hand at me once or twice.
She appeared to be in her late twenties, long blonde hair, wearing a blue chiffon dress with black shoes. She's just an ordinary looking woman, nothing out of the ordinary, except for her eyes. They are emotional, actually heart wrenching...as if she wished she could tell me something. Her daughter is around five years old, playful, a giggler in every sense of the word.
In many ways she is as precocious as Shirley Temple was when I used to watch her movies, putting her hands on her hips and pouting if she didn't get her way! I remember the first time I noticed them, and how they looked back at me with reservation. I guess they wondered how I might react to their being on my bus. At that time I had no clue they were spirits. I assumed they entered thru the rear doors, since within the free zone I allow folks to climb on board at either door. I don't think anyone else ever saw them. They were never seen on my bus until the last couple of evening runs, when few passengers were riding.
I will never forget that first time I got on my microphone and announced that this was my final run, and asked where they would like to get off. I was looking at them in my mirror as I spoke to them, when suddenly, they just vanished!!!! I was lucky I didn't run a red light, hit another car, or someone in a crosswalk! I pulled over at the next bus stop, and walked to the back of the bus where they had sat. In fact, I checked all the other seats. No one was on my bus, no one but me.
They never rode my bus every evening, nor on any particular day of the week, or time. So I came to watch my mirror often and once they were on board, I began to feel my smile grow, and I could see a smile in their eyes. They were welcome on my bus, and I think they knew it. I never knew their names, where they lived, or what had happened to them. Those thoughts always chased away my smile because I had a feeling they would have liked a friend. Someone who would not let them feel they were alone.
Over the days, weeks, and months, sometimes I would be surprised to glance up in my mirror and see them sitting closer to the front of the bus, but not too close. I
even imagined that I heard bits and pieces of conversation between them, over the roar of the buses engine. One day, while I was sitting at home, sipping on a hot chocolate, looking out over the water, as the Washington State Ferry was beginning to sail, I had an idea.
Though I never knew what night they might be seen on my bus, I thought it would be nice to leave on the seat they seemed to like most, a stuffed teddy bear for the little girl. If they didn’t appear, I would take the bear back home. It was just something I thought she might like to hold, to carry, to play with. So, the next day, I went from store to store, looking at the different bears, colors, and sizes, until I found one that I really liked. It just seemed to call out to me...buy me, buy me, buy me! I found it in a second hand thrift store on First Avenue, a block or two from Pikes Place Market!
I was off for the two days, so I just sat it on the book case, and thought about how surprised she might be? On my next shift, I boarded the bus and sat the bear, next to my seat, and waited. I waited till the time was about right, and, when no passenger's were on board.I stopped the bus, and walked back and placed the bear near their seat, propping him up! I continued on my route, not really expecting to see them that night. Suddenly, I heard the laughter of a small child and looked up into my mirror.
There they were, momma and daughter, and the little girl was hugging the bear tight. I saw tears rolling down both of their eyes, as her momma whispered "thank you for caring". I could of sworn she was right behind my driver's seat, because I heard her soft voice so clearly. After that night, they made it a point to sit closer to the front of the bus. Maybe 7 seats back, never closer. But no matter what evening I saw them, her little girl always appeared with the bear I had left for her, in her hand.
I wish I knew their story, who they were, why they were here, what had happened to them? But a few months later, I retired, after 32 years of driving a city bus, and I never saw them again. Oh, I did ride the bus for a while, as a passenger, hoping to see them on the bus, but sadly, I never did. I will never forget my last two
passenger's!
© 2004 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)
I've been a bus driver for 28 years, but this story is not about me, it's about my last two passengers who ride upon occasion towards the end of my last run. At first, I thought I was seeing things, for I didn't remember them ever walking on the bus, or exiting my bus. My next reaction was one of shock, surprise and uncertainty, when they one evening, vanished as I looked back in my mirror. But
now, almost a year later, I accept them, a mother and her child, as they chat to each other, sometimes looking towards me, and smiling. I even recall her little one waving her tiny hand at me once or twice.
She appeared to be in her late twenties, long blonde hair, wearing a blue chiffon dress with black shoes. She's just an ordinary looking woman, nothing out of the ordinary, except for her eyes. They are emotional, actually heart wrenching...as if she wished she could tell me something. Her daughter is around five years old, playful, a giggler in every sense of the word.
In many ways she is as precocious as Shirley Temple was when I used to watch her movies, putting her hands on her hips and pouting if she didn't get her way! I remember the first time I noticed them, and how they looked back at me with reservation. I guess they wondered how I might react to their being on my bus. At that time I had no clue they were spirits. I assumed they entered thru the rear doors, since within the free zone I allow folks to climb on board at either door. I don't think anyone else ever saw them. They were never seen on my bus until the last couple of evening runs, when few passengers were riding.
I will never forget that first time I got on my microphone and announced that this was my final run, and asked where they would like to get off. I was looking at them in my mirror as I spoke to them, when suddenly, they just vanished!!!! I was lucky I didn't run a red light, hit another car, or someone in a crosswalk! I pulled over at the next bus stop, and walked to the back of the bus where they had sat. In fact, I checked all the other seats. No one was on my bus, no one but me.
They never rode my bus every evening, nor on any particular day of the week, or time. So I came to watch my mirror often and once they were on board, I began to feel my smile grow, and I could see a smile in their eyes. They were welcome on my bus, and I think they knew it. I never knew their names, where they lived, or what had happened to them. Those thoughts always chased away my smile because I had a feeling they would have liked a friend. Someone who would not let them feel they were alone.
Over the days, weeks, and months, sometimes I would be surprised to glance up in my mirror and see them sitting closer to the front of the bus, but not too close. I
even imagined that I heard bits and pieces of conversation between them, over the roar of the buses engine. One day, while I was sitting at home, sipping on a hot chocolate, looking out over the water, as the Washington State Ferry was beginning to sail, I had an idea.
Though I never knew what night they might be seen on my bus, I thought it would be nice to leave on the seat they seemed to like most, a stuffed teddy bear for the little girl. If they didn’t appear, I would take the bear back home. It was just something I thought she might like to hold, to carry, to play with. So, the next day, I went from store to store, looking at the different bears, colors, and sizes, until I found one that I really liked. It just seemed to call out to me...buy me, buy me, buy me! I found it in a second hand thrift store on First Avenue, a block or two from Pikes Place Market!
I was off for the two days, so I just sat it on the book case, and thought about how surprised she might be? On my next shift, I boarded the bus and sat the bear, next to my seat, and waited. I waited till the time was about right, and, when no passenger's were on board.I stopped the bus, and walked back and placed the bear near their seat, propping him up! I continued on my route, not really expecting to see them that night. Suddenly, I heard the laughter of a small child and looked up into my mirror.
There they were, momma and daughter, and the little girl was hugging the bear tight. I saw tears rolling down both of their eyes, as her momma whispered "thank you for caring". I could of sworn she was right behind my driver's seat, because I heard her soft voice so clearly. After that night, they made it a point to sit closer to the front of the bus. Maybe 7 seats back, never closer. But no matter what evening I saw them, her little girl always appeared with the bear I had left for her, in her hand.
I wish I knew their story, who they were, why they were here, what had happened to them? But a few months later, I retired, after 32 years of driving a city bus, and I never saw them again. Oh, I did ride the bus for a while, as a passenger, hoping to see them on the bus, but sadly, I never did. I will never forget my last two
passenger's!
© 2004 Raymond Cook (All rights reserved)