Rubies And Wine

V-5

I get on the city bus a day or two later intent on taking it to the campus, then to work, then home. I step on as usual and see that only four of the unreasonably small, yet bulky, red seats that face the lone aisle are available.

The one in the back is next to a sleeping bum that appears to have a fly (most likely dead) in his beard. Next to him are three paper bags packed with clothing. The one to the right of the second row is guarded but a hulking woman in a sleeveless leather jacket exposing her tattooed coated arms. Her eyes seem to threaten me if I were to attempt joining her.

With no other options, I seatle for the one in the middle of the left side. To my left, is a woman. Forties, Filipino, Brown hair cut to the shoulder, and small wrinkles forming along her lips and eyes. She wears a beige sundress with a wool cardigan. The only jewelry she owns is a bracelet made of a copper wire with two diamond arrows pointing at each other with a gap in between. She looks directly forward out the window across from her. At least, I'd assume she is. I can't see too well past her dark sunglasses. I don't dwell on it too much though. The day is quiet bright and I never feel comfortable staring at someone too long. A minute passes before I hear a word from anyone.

"Hello there," the woman hums kindly while never shifting her gaze. An accent barely evident.

I don't speak in case she is talking to someone else.

"Hello?" she says again.

I still say nothing in fear of making a fool of myself.

I feel a soft hand tap the top of my kneecap with such grace. "How do you do, miss?"

"Oh," I gasp now she sure intended to grab my attention. "I am well. Thank you... how are you?"

"I'm well. I'm very well." Her eyes nor head move during this. I almost feel inclined to imitate her. "My name is Yuri."

"Pleasure to met you."

She waits patiently for more. "Well," she begins before a brief pause. "I told you my name. It would be nice to know yours." she doesn't give a rude tone but more so encouraging

Come on, Emily. Get it together. "I'm sorry," I say with a nervous chuckle. "My name is Emily."

"Ah. Lovely name. Where is your stop, Ms. Emily?"

"Well, I'm a student at the college downtown. I go there every morning and get back on the bus to work at The Keynote Diner."

She releases a wary chuckle. "Ah, The Keynote. I had a lovely milkshake from there a few days ago. The perfect mix of vanilla, bananas, and strawberries if you ask me." We both laugh, me more so to make sure she didn't feel too awkward. "I must ask, darling, why do you take this filthy bus? The area is nice so your family should own one. Why not drive yourself or have your mother take you?"

I smile. "Well, my mother can't. She lives in Arizona, where I'm from, and couldn't bring herself to move here and away from her friends. I own a Jeep of my own but I enjoy the idea of public transportation. Not many buses going around the middle of a small desert town."

This time, she laughs without restraining herself. I almost fear the hulking woman who turns to us before deciding we're not worth her trouble.

"I suppose so. If you enjoy the experience of anything, even those that may seem insignificant or meaningless, you must pursue them."

"You have a point there."

"Look at myself, for example. I'm not sure why, but I always enjoied the thought of tropic beaches with towering buildings. My mother said that when she came here as a little girl, she was so scared. People made fun of how she talked and would call her names if she mispronounced anything. When I was born she made sure I didn't experience that. My mother made sure that wouldn't happen to me. She had me study and work and now, I work as a restaurant manager." She laughs at herself as i do the same. "What are you studying my dear?"

"Psychology," I say simply.

"What do you wish to do for a career?"

"I want to be a therapist. My mother told me a therapist helped my father through his troubles just before he..."

Yuri places her hand onto my knee with a slight rub. "I'm sure you'll make both of them proud." We sit in silence for a short moment. "Ms. Emily, who do you live with. Friend? Sibling? Cousin? Lover?"

I chuckle at that last one as a smile returns to my face. "I live with a friend of mine, Suzanne. I would be living with my boyfriend, Drew, but he got a place with some of his other friends."

"Ah. This Suzanne girl must be very close to you."

"Yeah," I think of what Suzanne said a few nights ago about Leo. "Suzanne just got in a relationship with one of Drew's friends. She's worried though because he starts training for the military in a few weeks and won't get to see him that much." I worry I might be getting too personal with this random stranger. Just as I pause, the bus slows at one of the stops downtown. "Any advice you may have?"

"Ms. Emily," she smiles before standing up. "It is only when she closes her eyes and breathes," She pulls out a white cane from her left pocket and extends it out. "Is when she'll truly see. Have a nice day." She leaves without another word.

I feel like an idiot. How could I have sat next to this woman for the entire ride without having it cross my mind that she was blind. However, I still am grateful for our little chat. She seemed so refreshing with how she looked upon life.

Now, I sit there. Alone. The bum thrashes in the back with a snort before settling back down. The hulking woman peers over her shoulder and flashes a look of disgust before facing forward once more with her arms crossed. Without Yuri to conversate with, the bus became so much more unpleasant.

Oh well. At least the next stop is only a few blocks away from The Keynote.