Going to School

On Tuesdays and Thursdays to get to school I ride a bus. At first I didn't think much of this and didn't believe that anything truly strange or exciting could happen. But on my very first trip alone something strange did happen.

The following story is my experience on the bus from my very first day of riding it.

The bus arrived at about 9:45 and left at about 9:48. I climbed on and waited for the hour long trip to be over. Unfortunately the first problem I would have would before I even got to my second bus stop. I knew what cross street I needed to disembark near but I still got off the bus a stop too early and had to hike it to my next bus stop. When I arrived a sweet little old man asked me if I was just sitting down for a rest (I was using my crutch) or if I was waiting for the bus. I told him the bus and he asked me which one. Twelve...

"Oh I just saw twelve go by."

And there wouldn't be another one for another half hour. I sighed, deeply, feeling troubled and most horribly late to class.

I settled into the bench ready for a long wait. When this sweet little old man started talking away. He asked me where I was going and I told him school. Immediately he told me that it took him 50 years to graduate from high school. Because he had been 17 when the Korean war had started and he went and joined the Navy. Instantly I was intrigued because I have studied the Korean War extensively. He went on to tell me of the troubles he had graduating from high school after he returned. Then he told me of how he was born in Denver but during the depression his father moved their family out of Colorado because it was two expensive. He told me this past Christmas was the first one he had spend in Denver since he was three years old. At this point there was a pause in the conversation and because I was SO intrigued by the Korean War I said, "So you were in Korea" hoping to get him to talk more about it. He nodded and continued to tell me about how he was in a boat and didn't ever see too much action. This dear little sweetheart then offered me his sandwich, which I politely declined. After this another man approached the bus stop. Upon seeing him my new friend immediately became agitated and said goodbye and quickly left as fast as his 76 year old body would let him.

This new stranger was something else. He was in his late fifties to early sixties and was stoned out of his ever-lovin' mind. He had dirty long dark gray hair and a foul smell. He started off by asking me if his bus had gone by yet and unfortunately for him... and me... it already had. He then started rant about the darn bus system and the government. The connection between the two was well beyond me. But he was clearly unhappy about something. He paced in front of me shouting and cursing the government all the while shaking like crazy. While this was going on I decided to call my Dad to find out when my bus should arrive. When he answered the weird stranger was still talking so I didn't immediately answer Dad thinking it was rude to interrupt this man, no matter how freakish he was. Dad seemed confused by why no one was talking. I didn't bother to explain it to him, till later that night. All of the sudden he stopped and said very quietly, "Oh this won't do." Confused I became a little bit intrigued. As I watched him he pulled a vile of powder out of his jacket pocket, and a piece of paper. Watching closely I watched him lower himself to the ground and put the paper flat on the ground in front of him. Next he poured out some of the contents of the vile onto the paper and.... you can all probably guess this next part but I was still pretty shocked... he snorted it. I was greatly amused by this and was trying my hardest not to laugh when in a few minutes he stood behind the bench and started to sing. To my great relief the his bus arrived about five minutes later (mine was late!) and he climbed on telling me to have a "super day".

After his bus left I gave myself up to the laughter that had been building up inside of me. I became sober again and concerned waiting for my own bus to arrive. It did and I was indeed late to class...