Boots And Vans // Larry Stylinson

1. Bus 1.

Bus 1.

My brown, worn out, boots tripped their way into the subway and into the closest seat. I took in my surroundings, the people, the sounds, the signs. It smelled of burnt cigars and cheap perfume. I listened carefully as the announcements rang in, telling the outsiders where we were heading, (Which I find a bit personal (like who would like to know that Harry Edward Styles is heading back to his home in Cheshire?)) The bus made it's final beeps, signaling everyone that the train was about to take off.

Suddenly, the silence is interrupted by a short, stubby man, running in the direction of the train. He was dressed in a green apron with spills of tea and coffee. The petite legs that carried his body were as small as fingers.

The man called and called, shouting his existence to the train. Luckily, the train came to a sudden stop, opening it's doors and allowing the man in.

The man gasped for breath, his tiny feet unable to hold him anymore. He took the closest seat to the door, which happened to be next to me.

I smiled to the sweaty, anxious boy. "You made it." I whispered to the anonymous stranger.

The boy, hands playing with the strings of his apron, gave a chuckle, "Yes, yes I did. Stupid me, almost missed my train on the first day."

I hummed, frowning to the boy, "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."

The blue eyed boy, his mouth open in shock, "Are you some type of poet or something?" He whispered. "A spy?" I chuckled at his guesses.

Suddenly, mid-sentence, the train started up again and headed out of Doncaster and into Cheshire.

"No, no, far from a spy. Quite close with a poet though. I'm a newspaper editor. Sad that nobody reads it anymore," I frowned, "but for those that do, I'm glad to be writing for them."

"Was that an original quote?"

I laughed, knowing I wouldn't have that mind of intelligence, "No, it's a quote from Christopher Robin, you know, from Winnie the Pooh."

The boy erupted in laughter, "Did you seriously just give me some words of wisdom from Winnie the Pooh?"

I nodded.

Once his laughter finished and the silence gave in I continued the conversation, "Why have I never seen you on the train before?"

His small fingers pointed towards the coffee spilled apron, "New job. Apparently I'm not so good a making coffee."

I laughed. The trains announcements told us we have arrived in Cheshire. The boy strapped on his baby blue backpack as I grabbed my suitcase.

Just before the boy got up from his seat, I took notice of his shoes. For now, I will call him the boy in the Vans.