The Cleveland Avenue Bus WC 293

Simone and Hal meet at the bus stop. She wants to share her dream.

THE CLEVELAND AVE. BUS

I was sitting next to this stranger at the bus stop on Blair, waiting for the Cleveland Avenue bus.
We hadn't spoken yet, but I’m a talker and starved for conversation, so I finally spoke up.

“Excuse me.”

“Oh, hi,” he said. “I was daydreaming. What’s up?”

“I was wondering if I could share something with you.”

“A ham sandwich? Sure. I’m hungry.”

“As in tell.”

“Until the bus comes, I'm all ears.”

I cleared my throat and wiggled into a more comfortable position on the metal slatted bench.

“I had the strangest dream,” I began. “Well, it’s a repeating dream that’s driving me crazy. I have no one to share it with. I live alone and have few friends.”

I realized I sounded like an anti-social recluse. That's not the case! The dream keeps me from living my life to the fullest."

“How long have you had the dream?” he said. “I’m Hal, by the way.”

“Simone.”

We sat in awkward silence until I spoke up again.

“The dream started five years ago after a traumatic experience I can't talk about.”

“Well, maybe if you could, the dream would stop.”

I hadn't thought of that. I didn't know how to respond, so I didn't.

“I'm sorry! I guess that was insensitive of me, Simone. Continue with your dream, please.”

Was Hal patronizing me? Perhaps he wasn't as nice as he looked. Suddenly, I didn't feel like sharing my dream with this snarky stranger.

“Oh, I don't want to bore you.”

“No really; I want to hear it.”

So he could laugh at me? Maybe not outwardly, but inside his mind. Ha, ha, ha! Poor soul! Hardy, har har.

And that's when the Cleveland Avenue bus pulled up.

Saved by the bus.

WC 293