So here’s the story. I’m on the bus and it’s probably been one of THOSE days. Those days where I need to listen to semi-intense music loudly on my Ipod on the bus ride home. I’ve probably skipped about 23 songs to find the one suited for this particular trip. I’m also sitting as close to the back door of the bus as I possibly could maneuver without sitting on the two steps leading me off the bus entirely. My feet are slightly propped and well, you know, I’m looking at the bus driver’s reflection and remembering my times with this particular bus engineer, if you will.
We’re making a swift left on Baseline when I realize that there is a multiple passenger conversation taking place. Not wanting to miss out on this rarity, I coolly remove my earphones. It seems there is a woman speaking French and only French to the confused bus driver. She goes on without pause and I’m reminded of being in Paris with my piteous French skills reverberating against the walls of every restaurant we enjoyed. It was after about thirty seconds of this affair that someone also in the back of the bus spoke up, in French! Might I also add that, not surprisingly, I knew this girl from somewhere… She spoke beautifully all the way to the front of the bus. She was flawless, saying only the universal “McDonald’s” in English. It became crystal clear the Frenchwoman merely needed to know where to get off, McDonald’s being a landmark.
Well, a contemplative state must have come over me because this occurrence had great meaning. What struck me about the busload was everyone’s concerned face when the communication between the passenger and driver was unsuccessful. It was human nature and ultimate necessity that the communication attempt succeeds. Everyone, and I mean everyone, was on the edge of their seat when the learned young lady in the back saved the day. We all relaxed. I put my headphones back in. The relief that blanketed the passenger folk was a beautiful thing. I concluded that we all inherently wanted people to communicate successfully. We all really wanted this woman to find her destination and we would have been damned if she got off before McDonald’s. We could all move on with our ride, and everyone on the bus knew where they were going!
