By DARRIUS ESTIGOY
Staff Writer
“Buses don’t run at three AM.”
“I swear they did. I always see buses at this hour.”
“It’s a depot stop.”
“Oh, is it?”
“Yeah, it is. They have a crew here that does maintenance on the buses at night. There’s a maintenance yard in the back.”
“I never knew that.”
“Most people don’t. It’s not that important to most people.”
“Is it important to you?”
“Not really. I just noticed it there one day.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, I’m not some sort of… bus stop enthusiast.”
“I never thought you were. Though, come to think of it, I do always see you here.”
“I live nearby, I take the bus to work.”
“But you’re not here to take the bus to work. You’re here because of some other reason.”
“How do you figure that?”
“Buses don’t run at three AM.”
“Fair point.”
“Why are you here then?”
“I just like being here.”
“You like being here?”
“Yeah, I find it relaxing.”
“A bus stop relaxing?”
“Just look at it now.”
“It’s empty.”
“Right. Just imagine, in a couple of hours, this place will be packed with people. All of them trying to get someplace. But none of them really sure where they’re going.”
“I’m sure some of them know what they’re doing. Most of us are figuring it out as we go along.”
“Which one are you? The figured out or the figuring out?”
“Figuring out.”
“I figured.”
“Oh, did you now?”
“Why else would you be here at the dead of night?”
“I feel like I could be asking you that same question.”
“Then ask me.”
“Ok. Why are you here at the middle of night?”
“Because I knew you’d be here.”
“I’m sorry?”
“I sort of expected you’d show up tonight. You had a certain look about you.”
“… What?”
“I know it sounds crazy.”
“‘Cause it is.”
“But it’s not.”
“I beg to differ.”
“Beg away. But remember, beggars can’t be choosers.”
“What are you saying?”
“Just hear me. Please.”
“Why?”
“You’re at a bus stop at three in the morning. There’s not much else you could be doing, not at this hour.”
“I could be sleeping.”
“Could be. But you’re not.”
“Fair enough.”
“Will you hear me out?”
“Sure.”
“Sure?”
“Sure, tell me about buses.”
“Oh, I don’t like buses.”
“You don’t like buses?”
“Heavens, no! Loud, crowded things. I prefer bullet trains.”