(I’m a teenage girl, taking the bus home after a day out. On the way to a seat, I pass a woman and her son, who seems to be about my age.)
Woman: “How about that one?”
(The son buries his face in his hands and sighs.)
Son: “Still gay, Mum.”
(This happened with every teenage girl that got on. Wherever you are, gay boy, I hope you find a good boyfriend!)
(My brother recently took his little four-year-old daughter on the bus with him. She notices that the zipper on the bag he is carrying is open.)
Niece: “Dad, your zipper is open!”
Brother: *panics and leans over to look at his fly*
(Everybody on the bus turns to look at my brother, some glancing down to his jeans as well. My niece notices that my brother’s notebook has fallen out and tries to tell him.)
Niece: “Daaaaad! Your zipper’s open, and now all of your stuff is falling out!”
(I’m riding a bus watching people get on. One of the passengers walks past the fare box without paying.)
Driver: “Excuse me! Do you have your fare?”
Passenger: “Yeah. Here.” *shows the driver a handful of change*
Driver: “Okay.”
Passenger: “Okay.” *starts walking away again without putting the fare into the box*
Driver: “Excuse me! What about your fare?”
Passenger: *annoyed* “I have it right here!” *shows the handful of change again*
Driver: “The fare goes in the box!”
Passenger: “But I have my fare!”
Driver: “And it goes in the box!”
Passenger: *puts the change into the box, grumbling* “But I have my fare…”
(I am on the bus. Three guys get on and, out of the corner of my eye, I see them look at me, exchange some whispers and approach me.)
Guy #1: “So… where are you headed?”
Me: “Just to the city for the day.”
Guy #2: “You should come hang out with us.”
Me: “No, thanks; I’m meeting up with a friend.”
Guy #1: “Well, ditch them and come hang out with us.”
Me: “No, thanks.”
Guy #3: “Come on.”
Me: “No, thanks.”
(After the third refusal, they take their seats, one behind me, one in front of me, one next to me, essentially cornering me. They continue to attempt to persuade me to hang out with them for another two stops and I’m beginning to get quite frightened as they’re all about a foot taller than me. Suddenly, a stranger approaches.)
Stranger: “Hey, um, excuse me. Can I sit next to my girlfriend please? There are plenty of free seats.”
Guy #3: “Girlfriend?”
Stranger: “Yeah; can you move?” *turns to me* “Hey, baby, how was work?”
Me: “Okay…”
(Guy #3, who is sitting next to me, vacates the seat after the stranger gives him a meaningful look. The stranger takes his spot, wraps his arm around me and passes me his phone in which he’s typed the message ‘My name’s [Name]; play along.’. We spend the rest of the trip exchanging details about our day and future plans we have with ‘friends’ until, near the city, the three guys get off.)
Stranger: “Oh, my god! I hope I wasn’t crossing a line or anything! I just got on the bus and you looked so scared!”
Me: “I WAS scared; thank you SO much!”
Stranger: “My pleasure; I thought those guys looked like creeps. We made a good couple! Do you have a boyfriend?”
Me: “Yeah.”
Stranger: “Same!”
(We definitely stayed great friends after that!)
(I take the bus to school in the morning. I’m 16, but I am quite small and look maybe 13 or 14. This morning I am running early. I’m on an almost empty bus, standing at the front, when suddenly the driver stops suddenly. I fly into the windshield, hurting my hands and knocking my head quite painfully.)
Bus Driver: “Hey! Be careful! If you get injured I’m not paying any compensation, you little b****!”
Me: *sarcastic* “Thanks for your concern. I could have concussion from that bang on the head, but don’t you worry about anything but yourself.”
Bus Driver: “Why don’t you go home crying to your mummy? You shouldn’t even be on a bus on your own! What kind of parents do you have? It’s not my fault they don’t love you.”
Me: “You stopped for no good reason, with no warning! I’m lucky it wasn’t any harder or I would have gone through the windshield! And for your information I’m 16, and have been taking this same bus every day for five years. Never have I encountered such reckless driving!”
Bus Driver: “Shut the f*** up you little b****, before I kick you off this bus. You have no right to talk to your elders like that.”
(By this time I’ve noticed a pram has fallen sideways and the child inside was less than an inch away from hitting her head on a pole. I go to help the mother right the pram.)
Child’s Mother: *loud enough for the driver to hear* “Thank you! Some people just can’t admit when they’re in the wrong. Honestly, people should accept that age doesn’t equal wisdom.”
(The mother and I get off at the next stop and wait for the next bus together. Afterwards, I called the bus company to complain. The person on the other end said they knew exactly who I was talking about, so I guess I wasn’t the first person to complain about that driver!)
