Close Call

Before I leave my house, I check online to see when the next bus is due to arrive. The times are always estimations, but they are nearly fairly accurate. I find that certain stops, in certain directions, are more timely than others. I have been house sitting this past week, and went out to catch the bus. Knowing the estimated time of arrival could be a little off in this neck of the woods, I planned so I would have about a 5 minute wait at the bus stop.

As I was closing the gate behind me, I looked down the street to see if anyone else was waiting at the bus stop. I squinted my eyes as recognition hit me like a ton of bricks: the bus was there! Quickly I had to decide if I should make a run for it. As my pulse quickened, a guy five houses down from me started running for it but the bus roared off without us.

Sigh.

Okay, next plan. 1) Check phone for alternate routes to destination. 2) Go to bus stop and text Bus Tracker for the next estimated arrival time. Maybe I can wait it out. 3) Try out bakery on corner?

I make it to the bus stop, text Bus Tracker, and then start searching for alternate routes. I don't have much time to play with here. As I'm contemplating an 8 minute walk to another bus that may or may not be early, I receive a text from my good friend Bus Tracker. It said the bus was "DUE and 20 minutes". Yeah yeah, "DUE" happened 4 minutes ago. So lame. Can I really wait 20 minutes? Is it time to taxi?

I look up to see what the taxi flow looks like, and here comes a bus! A magic bus! A bus I needed at that very moment! Gasp! This is amazing!

The bus driver sees me. He slows down. As he pulls up to the curb I notice something shiny. A dime! Ohhh... a dime! I bend down to retrieve it. The bus doors open. I can't pick up the dime. It's difficult. The cement is bumpy; I don't want to ruin my manicure. I sweep the dime off the curb and into my hand. Yes! Bus doors are closing. NOOOO!!!! I stand up, and pound on the doors. They open. I climb aboard and the bus driver says, "I thought your disappeared."

Yeah, well, um, see, there was this dime...