The rain drizzles down, piercing through my soft fabric jacket and seeping into my boots, creating a soothing rhythm as it hits the pavement. The chilly droplets cling to my skin, sending shivers down my spine. I was thoroughly unprepared for the weather, and the frigid, damp air wraps around me like a relentless foe. Taking a quick look at my watch, I see that it's 4:37. I have another 23 minutes of waiting in the rain before the 5 o'clock bus shows up.
An inviting bench beneath an awning beckons to bus riders, offering respite from the relentless downpour. Despite the temptation, I resist, vividly recalling the times I had dozed off against the awning, missed my bus, and was forced to limp back home in varying degrees of weather.
As I turn away, a hoarse voice startles me from behind, "Take a seat." I whirl around to find the source of the voice - a smiling woman who seems to be in her mid-eighties, seated on the bench under the awning. I hadn't heard her approach. She is clad in a plastic poncho and clutches a small leather purse.
"I can't," I tell her.
"Why not?" she asks, her smile flickering. Despite my caution around strangers, something tells me she's a good person with pure intentions. "I might fall asleep and miss the bus," I explain my situation to her. She listens attentively, and at the end of my tragic tale, she said, "How about you come and sit, and if you fall asleep, I will wake you up when the bus arrives. You said you're on the five, right?"
"Yes," I say, a smile forming on my lips. "Thank you."
The pitter-patter of rain creates a soothing backdrop as the woman gestures for me to join her. The gentle patter of the raindrops, the distant rumble of thunder, and the occasional gust of wind add to the ambiance. Despite the weather, there is a sense of warmth and comfort in the air as I sit down next to the kind old woman.
YOU ARE READING
The Bus Stop
Короткий рассказThis is a short story (1 part) about a bus stop and a kind old lady on a cold rainy day
