A strange thrill gripped me upon seeing a bus I wanted to board that was infrequent on my route.
It approached the stop, empty and welcoming. But when I realised that everybody around me was waiting the same bus, the thrill was quickly replaced by prudence. I strategically spotted a seat by the window, right in front of the conductor, close enough that I could easily buy my ticket.
I jostled my way into the bus eager to settle down in the ‘reserved seat’, listening to my iPod for the next two hours. But when I got there, I saw a pair of tote bags had already occupied it. As I stared at them confusedly, two girls cried in perfect unison, “esssskkyooosmee,” and pushed me aside.
The triumphant owners of the bags took over the much coveted seat and the one beside it, as I wearily stood beside them throughout the commute. The next time I left home for that bus, I had a satchel at hand that could pass through a bus window.
