The Bus Ride
by Jay
"Mar-tin."
"Mar-ten."
"Mart-in."
Marie swung her feet back and forth. First the one patent clad foot
and then the other. Next she swang both feet together, forward then
back. Forward higher, and then back harder, she swang her feet. She
began to slip.
"Mart-in"
"Mart-en"
"Mart-in," she sang silently.
Almost swinging her small body off the bus seat, she reached out a
gloved hand and balanced herself with the cool shiny rail on the seat
ahead of her.
"Sit back in your seat," her Nan said. "Be still now."
Carefully, Marie arranged her ruffle clad bottom on the slippery seat.
She sat straight on the very edge and tried to see out the window to
her left.
"Nana can I get on my knees?"
"Yes dear," the woman replied
"Marten"
"Marten," she began again.
From her vantage, facing the rear of the bus with her hands
gripping firmly to the back of the seat, the child could look out the
window at the street. The Roundabout was coming up. She waited
eagerly. Thoughts of the fountain the bus would soon circle, brought
a giggle to her lips. If the water were on there might be sparkles of
light. Perhaps she would see a rainbow!
Next there would be the stop for her Aunt's street for her to watch
for.
Soon she sighed. No rainbow and they weren't getting off at Bay
Street today.
"Marten, marten," she muttered half-heartedly, the magic gone. She
looked over at her Nan. The furs around the grey-haired woman's neck
were so soft, softer than her cousin's cat, Marie knew. A diminutive
hand left the red leather seat back and sought the furry underbelly
of her grandmother's neckpiece. Glassy black eyes stared fiercely out
at the little girl. The fur piece was styled in such away that each
creature held a tail in its mouth. Marie knew they had no underjaw,
just a clip to hold the furs in place around the neck of her
grandmother's best coat.
Marie glanced up at her grandmothers face to see if this was
acceptable behaviour. Her Nan nodded. She moved one leg over her
grandmother's lap and settled, taking care not to get her shoes on the
older women's coat. Marie rested her cheek on the soft chest. Two
little hands stroked the furs; her gloves now discarded. The older
woman closed her arms around her granddaughter's little shoulders. A
gentle kiss from her lips lighted on the child's head.
Marie sighed again. She breathed in the comforting scent of her Nana.
Her violet eyelids fluttered and her breathing became light. A smile
came to her sleeping face.
© Gertrude Wilkes - March 28, 1999
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