BUS STORY # 195 (Bert’s Bus Story # 1)

300 and bus stop, originally uploaded by busboy4.

Back in September of 2006, I posted a blog about the wonderful relationships between our driver and we riders. (You can read it here.) There was a lot of laughter, a lot of joshing, and the kind of camaraderie that would make you think twice about calling in sick because you’d miss the ride in.

I've never had another driver like Gino.

But recently, Bert,* who’s one of the regulars, told me a few driver stories, and one of them brought back those wonderful Gino days of yesteryear.

Bert was running just a tad late. Sure enough, when he rounds the corner, there’s the bus already at the stop. Bert doesn’t run because he’s got bad knees, so he starts walking as fast as he can.

But the bus starts pulling away from the curb.

Well, heck, no point in hurrying, so Bert relaxes his pace.

The bus goes about 10 feet, then starts slowing down.

All right! Bert picks up the pace.

The bus starts rolling again.

Dang! Bert relaxes.

The bus stops after another 10 feet.

Bert figures some of the regulars must have seen him and persuaded the driver to wait for him.

He gets to the front door. It opens. He climbs aboard. The driver says, “Well, it’s about time!”

Before he can respond, he realizes all the regulars are struggling mightily to keep from breaking out in laughter. Bert realizes he’s been punk’d. The laughter explodes.

The driver breaks down laughing, too. Sometimes you gotta have a little fun when you’re working, she tells him.

Bert tells me this story with great relish.

__________

*Real name changed.