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| Take the Bus |
Ten
more days…only ten more days…Rosalie heard this
phrase in her mind with each bus stop, with each passenger trundling off the
bus and new passengers pulling themselves aboard. Her smile greeted them with
each closing of the door. Ten more days.
After all these years, Rosalie had come to know
their names, their lives with all the good and bad, and how they aged as she followed them
wrinkle for wrinkle. Now, retirement
marched closely: Ten more days.
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| Source |
Then a new passenger, pretty young woman clutching
her bag and books to her chest, leaped upon the steps. Looking over her shoulder, pretty woman
caught the glare of an angry man racing after the bus. “You bitch!
Get yourself out here!” He
screamed her name, “Cassie!”
“You okay, baby?” Rosalie closed the door and
pulled away from the bus stop, brakes and hydraulics singing. She saw in the
mirror other passengers, faces creased and worried. Young Woman looked up, face bruised and tears
creasing. “Cassie?”
No story needed.
“We all been there, Sweet Child…Bastard needs a
good whuppin’…We keep you safe here, Baby…” Slowly a smile crept across
Cassie’s face.
Day after day, Cassie raced faster and faster, the
Bastard drawing closer and closer. Day
after day, the Bus Family held her, carried her to safety.
Then one day, on Day Ten, Bastard gripped Cassie’s
arm, backhanding her soft face.
The bus door opened, with Rosalie flying out,
facing the Bastard nose to nose.
Following close behind, the Bus Family surrounded, encircling him
tightly. Rosalie lightly rested her
hands on Cassie’s shoulders, whispering, “You
tell him, girl. You don’t need him
anymore. We’ll take you in.”
Words bottled up burst out and nailed the Bastard
for every sin that was his. The circle
tightened when Cassie gave him a right cross.
“You get your crap outta my apartment before I get back…”
The Bus Family climbed back on, each one shoving
or kicking him. We take care of our own…
Rosalie smiled inwardly. I’ll tell the company I’ll stay for a few more months….
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| supporting heroes |
Bastard got what he deserved indeed, I guess there are reasons to like riding the bus lol
ReplyDeleteIf one rides the bus everyday back and forth, the bus driver recognizes and remembers. There's a friendship there.
DeleteWho needs retirement when you have family like that
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely--people who surround you everyday become and extended family.
DeleteWell done Cassie! A right hook, haha! I love it. That'll teach him.
ReplyDeleteGotta give her kudos!
DeleteWhat a wonderful story.
ReplyDeleteMany can not take what they dish out.
One hopes the Bastard finds himself facing a martial arts girl someday.
DeleteWhat a jerk!
ReplyDeleteI think that is his middle name.
DeleteGood for Cassie; getting strong.
ReplyDeleteSeeing her potential is a good beginning.
DeleteI didn't think she would retire after that. She'll stick around to be sure Cassie is all right and the jerk gone.
ReplyDeleteRosalie keeps an eye out for her family, for sure.
DeleteAlways nice to find your own 'community' of concern and care. Lovely story.
ReplyDeleteWe all need that sense of family and community.
DeleteHooray for community.
ReplyDeleteLove this. Thank you.
Family watch out for each other.
DeleteGood for Cassie. Takes guts.
ReplyDeleteHope there are more Rosalie and Cassie women out there!
DeleteYeah--threw Bastard under the bus--sort of!
ReplyDeleteGreat use of that phrase!! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteWhat a wonderful Bus Family, taking care of Cassie, helping her boot out the so-and-so. I liked this.
ReplyDeleteFamily is nice to find, anywhere you find it. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is. Living overseas with young kids, we found "family" there.
DeleteIf only it could be this way. Bastard is so likely to refuse to leave or come back and kill her... She needs the Bus Family in her apartment.
ReplyDeleteI know. I gave this a happy-ever-after ending. I like to think that one of her family (a huge brother?) would stay with her.
DeletePowerful story. Go, Cassie!
ReplyDeleteKeep punching away, Cassie!
Delete