The Bus Ride Home

Pam had enjoyed her weekly trip out with her friend Janet.  She lived alone now, and looked forward to her regular meeting with one of her oldest friends.  They usually met on a Saturday afternoon, and caught up on their news and gossip while they went for a bit of a walk through the country lanes, weather permitting.  Then they had a choice of a few favourite cafes to reward themselves with a coffee and maybe a slice of cake.  That morning as she looked out of the window she knew that the mist would clear to leave them with a fine autumn day.  Unusually for the end of October it was mild, and although the wind had a bite, it was bright and sunny; so they had decided to follow a way-marked walk on the common and then stop at the nearby garden centre which had a good coffee shop.

They scuffed through the fallen leaves as they walked along the country paths, admiring the oranges and russets of the leaves and breathing in the crisp air, making the most of the days before the winter chill really kicked in.  By the time they finished, muddy shoe’d and rosy cheeked they had built up quite an appetite.

There were still plenty of people in the coffee shop even though they didn’t get there til three o’clock, so they found a nice quiet table by the window overlooking the bedding plants and water features.  There were pumpkin lanterns on every table and bits of spider web decorating the counter.

‘It’s getting very commercial isn’t it?’ observed Janet, ‘It was never like this when I was young.  I mean… there was this woman on the telly only last night saying how it was her favourite of all the ‘holidays’ … I mean I ask you!’

‘I think it’s all probably quite harmless,’ laughed Pam, amused by her old friend’s scandalised expression.  ‘The kids at the local church are having a light party this evening – they all have to dress up as a superhero instead of a witch or hobgoblin.  My neighbour’s two grand-daughters both want to go as Thor and Iron Man – so much for the days when little girls wore long, frilly party dresses!’

‘Still, I put a stop to all that trick or treat nonsense.’ smirked Janet. ‘Last year I spent all day covering sprouts in chocolate and then wrapping them in gold foil to look like those fancy chocolates – I heard someone talking about it on the radio and thought I’d give it a try!  I bet they won’t be back this year!’

Finishing their drinks, the two women went for a wander round the garden centre and ended up at the tills with baskets filled with spring bulbs from the bargain bin.  Reluctantly glancing at her watch Pam saw that it was nearly four o’clock.

‘I think I’d better make tracks for home soon, dear.  Looks like we’ve had the best of the light for today, it’ll be getting dark – and it gets chilly waiting for the bus.’

‘Are you sure I can’t drop you home love?’ Asked Janet as they headed for the exit.

‘That’s kind dear, but it’s going right out of your way, I’m fine on the bus – the 130 drops me right near home.’

After she’d waved goodbye to Janet, Pam walked briskly by the edge of the common.  It was a short walk down the lane to get to the bus stop which was in a little shelter in case it rained, with a comfy bench.   It was normally well-lit but the light was broken.  Pam rubbed her hands briskly together as she waited at the bus stop – it was getting decidedly chilly.  Looking on the timetable it looked like she had just missed a bus and had a twenty minute wait.

She started to rethink the wisdom of having turned down the offer of a lift, but she hated to be a burden.  It was almost three years since she’d lost Gerald and she thought fondly of how he would always check whether she needed a lift anywhere.

The minutes ticked by slowly as she waited at the deserted bus stop in the twilight as it got steadily colder.  The trouble was with this time of year it got dark so quickly.  Pam saw the moon come out and the first stars, and tried not to jump at the slightest sound.  A couple of people walked past the bus stop but no-one stopped so she didn’t even have anyone to chat to.  Zipping her fleece up as high into the neck as it would go, she turned up the collar and buried her hands deep in her pockets.  She envied the people driving past in their warm cars and was relieved when the little single-decker trundled into view.  Sticking her arm out to hail the bus, she was glad to climb aboard.

Smiling at the chubby blonde driver, she pressed her freedom pass on the card reader and went and sat down half way along.  The bus wasn’t too busy – just a loud bunch of kids at the back and a few other passengers with shopping bags.  The bus was delightfully cosy and warm after being stood outside, and she gazed out of the window, enjoying the hypnotic effect of the lights in the houses and shops as she travelled the familiar route home.  She wasn’t sorry when the noisy bunch of young people got off the bus in town, judging by the weird make-up she assumed they were off to a party, but there was no telling with young people these days.

The last part of the journey was the bit where the bus went all round the local estate before going on to the little village which was at the end of the route.  Pam  had a small bungalow in a close with a pretty green in the middle.  Gradually people got off the bus until she saw that there was  an older couple at the front and one other passenger, a middle-aged man clutching a duffle bag tightly on his lap.  Unfortunately she became aware that he just kept staring at her – even when she glanced back at him he was still staring in a slightly unnerving way, hardly blinking behind his thick glasses.

“Maybe he’s lonely.” she thought and smiled at him, but he didn’t take the opportunity to nod or smile.  Just stared at her again until she started looking out of the window.  The trouble was looking at the reflection in the window told her he was still watching her.  She moved her seat so that she was sitting nearer the couple at the front.  Smiling nervously at the lady she glanced back to make sure he hadn’t followed her.

‘Never mind our Colin dear, he doesn’t mean any harm.’ said the lady quietly, patting her hand with a reassuring smile.  He lives on our turning.’  Her husband added,  ‘He’s been to his day centre to give his mum a rest, they put him on the bus and Betty meets him at the bus stop.  We all get off in a couple of stops.’  Pam was greatly relieved and felt a little foolish for having been so rattled – must be all the spooky nonsense she’d been surrounded by the last few days – she turned to smile at Colin a lot more warmly this time.

She waved cheerio to the couple and watched as the little group got off the bus, with Colin to be met by an older lady who waved at the bus driver before taking her son’s hand and walking slowly up the road with him.

‘Just us now love!’ called the driver with a grin.  ‘Soon have you home!’

Pam settled back into a her seat and rested her eyes – just a short walk home and then slippers on,  feet up and a nice cup of tea in front of ‘Strictly’ on the telly.

The driver smiled as she looked into her rear view mirror – funny, no-one ever noticed that she had no reflection.  She was glad there was no-one else left on the bus – it made it so much easier to dispose of the body.