the bus - March 31, 2005

June 22
The same girl boarded my bus for the 4th day in a row. Waiting at the corner of Merchant and 13th street, she’s always there. Every morning, standing there at the stop with her cup of coffee and wearing her work uniform that is perfectly pressed without a wrinkle. Her nametag says “Erika”. That’s a pretty name. She always sits midway in the back of the bus and stares out the window. I watched her in the mirror today for a while and she never glanced up. I am certain she’s thinking about something. At the end of the line, where the mall is, she gets up and walks off the bus briskly, as if in a hurry to get to work as quickly as possible.

July 3
Five days a week, without fail, she is waiting for me. I cordially say good morning to her as she steps onto the bus with her coffee. She only smiles. She is wearing red, white and blue ribbons in her hair today and is wearing makeup for the first time since she started riding my bus. She must be trying to impress somebody at work. She must have really fallen for her co-worker. She gets off the bus, quickly as usual. She must be expecting to see him this morning.

August 1
She is really head-over-heels about this guy. I think it is silly how perfectly she dresses and how much makeup she wears. I would think she’s beautiful without any of that. He is so shallow that he only admires her when she dresses like that. Today when she got on the bus her makeup was covering dark circles under her eyes. It must have been a late night. I wonder where they went to dinner. He probably made her pay for her own meal. He’s selfish like that. She is writing something in her journal today. She’s probably wondering if it is love. I think she could do much better.

September 13
They broke up. I can tell because when I greeted her this morning she did not even smile. She wasn’t wearing any makeup and she had on sunglasses. I bet she had been crying. She is carrying a bag with her to work. It must be all his belongings. She is doing the right thing. I wonder if he cheated on her.

September 15
He’s a sly one. They’re back together now. You can tell. She was back in perfect form, and she has fallen again for one of his little tricks. You can’t trust a man like him. Today she is wearing a new jacket. It’s been a bit colder today. He bought her that jacket to smooth over the tension of his infidelity. I expected Erika to be smarter than to cave in so easily.

November 19
She has quit bringing coffee on the bus in the morning. He doesn’t like the way that she spends money on coffee and on new clothes. I wonder where he lives that he’s never been on my bus. I am sure he is sharp looking fellow. Erika wouldn’t settle for anything less. Today she said “good morning” when she got on the bus. That’s the first time I’ve ever heard her voice. When she talks alone with him, he can’t shut her up, but in public she’s so shy. I think he’s cheating on her again though. She is so intoxicated by the gifts he gives her and the way he woos her with his words that she doesn’t even see it. I can’t believe she’s not catching on.

November 26
She’s not on the bus today. First time I haven’t seen her on the corner.

December 24
Christmas Eve and she’s still gone.