Part 8

Allen, this is your stop aren’t you getting off here”? I sat there for a minute and thought about the new hedges that had to be planted and the irrigation ditch that had to be dug and then I looked over at Leah. Her eyes or at least I thought begged me to stay with her. The driver knowing I always get off here yelled back and said “last call for this stop, are you leaving are or you staying?” My sense of responsibility said for me to go to work, yet my heart was telling me to play hooky today and spend it with Leah. I yelled back at the driver to drive on for I had other plans for today. When I said this I felt Leah’s hand squeeze mine a little tighter and she said…”are you sure, you aren’t going to get into any trouble are you?” I assured her that I would be fine and that my job would still be there tomorrow.

I then looked at her and asked a simple and straightforward question. “Leah I said, do you trust me?” I mean do you trust me enough to come to what I call my secret place?’

Her eyes grayed a little and she said what kind of secret place” I could feel the apprehension in her voice when she queried me. Though we both knew in our hearts that we were meant for each other, I knew that this had made her a bit nervous. So I tried to calm her fears without letting on that I knew she was afraid…I went on pretending to be unaware of her reactions and prattled on and on about the beauty of the secret place and that how I often go there to read  and relax. Still unsure she asked…”where is this secret place that you speak of Allen”? I then assured her that it was not far from downtown and that we can reach by riding this same bus to the beltline. When we reach the beltline we just switch buses for the one going to Cleveland Park…”Oh…Oh she piped in, I know where that is at, they even have a zoo there don’t they?” Are you taking me to the zoo?”

Her eyes shimmered again and took on that child like look that I so loved. “Yes, I’ll take you to the zoo, but I also want to show you my secret place as well if we have time today, OK? She smiled and said sure and that would be great. Great was the correct word, yes this was indeed great. Not only did I get out of digging that irrigation ditch today but more importantly I would be spending it with the lovely Leah. I sat there pretty much in silence holding her hand still and listening to her tell me a little bit about herself. I was fascinated with each detail and felt myself growing closer to her with each spoken word.

After twenty minutes or so our bus reached the beltline and I told Leah that this was where we would get off to change buses. As we got up from our seats, I being the gentleman I was allowed Leah to go first and walk ahead of me. Did I say gentleman? Well yes in part it was because I was being gentlemanly, but also in part it was because I loved the cute little way her hips would twist when she walked. We got off the bus just south of Macabee and main and I knew it would be another half hour before the Cleveland park bus would run. There across the street from the bus stop stood an old drugstore that at that time served the best root beer floats on the planet. I asked Leah since we had a little time if she would like one. In typical fashion her response was enthusiastic. Her eyes just sparkled as we walked to the corner to cross over. The walk / don’t walk sign flashed red telling us to wait. I looked both ways and in my own childlike madness grabbed Leah by the arm and yelled lets go. She said that the sign says not to walk and I told her that we were living dangerous today. We both dashed across the street laughing and pretty much ignoring the irritated drivers who had to stop and allow our passage to safety on the other side. When I opened the door to the drugstore, the smell of malt filled the air as we made our way over to the soda fountain and sat down on the swivel barstools…. to be continued

J. Allen Wilson © 9/28/08

The Bus Stop Part 1

The Bus Stop Part 2

The Bus Stop Part 3

The Bus Stop Part 4

The Bus Stop Part 5

The Bus Stop Part 6

The Bus Stop Part 7