March 3 2014 'Bus fare bully'

Today, I was extremely tired as I headed to the bus stop. Yesterday, I helped my brothers work on my mother's house and is now feeling the effect. As I got to the stop, comp, AC and Ms. Shewsbury was there. This has been quite a few days since we have seen Ideal Restaurant,  and Ms.QOTY was also absent this morning. Speaking of QOTY, yesterday, I saw her working at Trimart Rendezvous and it was nice to see that she recognised me. I asked her the location of an item and she kindly directed me to the correct aisle and shelf. 

Given the national focus on bullying over the last month, what occurred next shocked me. Not having enough coins I asked comp for a quarter to make up my fare. she asked me to give her what I had and she would put the difference $0.25.  (I must make a note to repay it, knowing  that she might sent a bailiff to collect, I already owe her $4  from the share of the money found on the bus. See incident here). 

The señorita goes up to AC and demands - "Give me your bus fare!" . The poor woman in shock and terrified asks, " Are you a bus fare bully?, and filled with terror, hand over her cash. (Just kidding!) I think she understands that comp was just trying to make change and willingly cooperated.

On entering the bus, no row 2 in her seat, no row 2 left, in her seat and AC, forgets sitting in row 2, to sit further in the back with Ms. Shewsbury.  At the Long Bay turn, comp tells how on a few occasions she had mistaken a blue garbage can for NC. NC wears an aquamarine coloured uniform (this is my assessment of the colour) which is quite noticeable from the distance. My nearsighted friend, seeing a different blue in the distance, mistakes it for a person and assumes its NC. Clearly a case of being coloured challenged  and an extreme case of short sightedness even for someone with the eyesight of Mrs. Magoo. We have all seen the signs of her vision problems before, especially with the incidents concerning little Jamirah/Jamilla.

At the Long Bay stop, no sleepy head today, but her assumed brother, gets on board, then the Kolij sisters. One sister goes to the back and the other sits in the reserved seat, normally taken by sleepy head. Comp asks her if she is related to the 'young red skinned mother with the playful daughter'  (YRMWPD) and gets confirmation that she is a sister. So now, we have three sisters, I asked her if she and her sister are twins, and she says yes, paternal twins. We later discover that, they are in the same form level at school doing similar subjects but in different forms. This sister also indicated, that she was the one that looked more like her father,and to me she also looked like the elder of the two. Later in the trip, a blind man got in and comp volunteered the Kolij twin to give up her seat. she was quite willing and acquiesced gracefully, standing while giving the bags to comp to hold. 

At  the Hedding's  corner the student with the skinny jeans boarded. The bus was full by now and she was struggling through the crown with a oversized cloth bag, I offered to hold the bag for her while making the comment that, "when I become Prime Minister, women with oversized bags, would be banned from buses". She took the joke in stride as she passed the bag, for me to hold. Of course the first victims of that policy, will be the "premature bag ladies", I accompany sometimes.  The girl was quite friendly and we shared on the bus a portion of comp's breakfast for the day, we had a mint each, skinny jeaned student included. By the time we got to Foul Bay, Perfume got in but Julianna was absent. 

My greatest moment of pride came when, Comp stood to give and elderly man her seat. She really showed the old Girl Guide spirit. I'm proud to know that even before her "unconfirmed" expulsion from the Guides something took root. At least we share the common Guide and Scout Motto.  I was by then holding my bags, the student's bags but when the 'premature bag lady' added hers, then the weight began to be felt. I could not imagine what was inside, but lead weights would have been more comfortable.

At the Durants stop, no St. Lawrence sisters, and I'm now beginning to miss our little friend. As Comp was standing in Gestapo mode, she remarked to me that AC was sleeping, and I had to explain to her that some of us do work hard, and deserve a little rest.

The remaining journey continued smoothly and we all arrived safely at our various stops. 

Hasta la vista!

Dios te bendiga!