Hail To The Bus Driver, Part 5

(I am having a terrible week and a particularly terrible day. I tell myself that I need to leave my apartment since I haven’t spoken to anyone in a few days and decide to go downtown by bus. The bus driver greets me very cheerfully, but gives me a worried look as a get on. I get out my book and start reading. I pull the cord to get off the next stop.)

Driver: “So, how is that book?”

Me: “It’s pretty good. I just started.”

Driver: “Yeah, I was looking at you read in my mirror and I was going to ask how it was, because through a mirror it looked like you were nearly done, but then I realized you were just starting!”

(He continued to chatter with me cheerfully for the remainder of my ride. I had a feeling that he could see that I was not feeling too happy. By the time I got off the bus I was smiling and felt better than I had in days. He greeted the next person just as cheerfully. I hope I will get on his bus again sometime.)