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.
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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.