They Make 'em Everyday

Part Two

When I approached them, everyone stopped talking and stared at me. Their looks seeming to be searching my soul. I had to resist the urge to vocalize the smart remarks that were coming to mind, after all these people didn't know the real me and, if I wanted it to stay that way, I had to keep my mouth shut. I decided it was in my best interest and theirs if I just ignored them and their looks. I turned away from them and toward the girl who hadn't even appeared to notice I had joined them at the bus stop. She was either lost in thought or trying to focus on something really far away, I couldn't tell. Either way, I decided it was time to break the awkward silence that seemed to have consumed the intersection. "So, school's already starting again, doesn't seem like summer should be over yet does it?" 

She snapped out of the daze that had entrapped her only to shoot me a look that can only be described as demonic. "Summer is NOT over" she retorted "summer doesn't end until September 22nd."  Her head snapping back forward just as quickly as it had snapped toward me and almost instantly, she was staring off into the distance again. 

I could now see why nobody liked her. Not only was she unattractive physically but, let's just say her personality matched her appearance. The group behind me had began to talk and laugh again at some point during my short conversation with 'little miss contemptuous' so I turned to them to see if they might be able to satisfy my curiosity as to why she was the way she was. They again stopped talking when I turned around. 

I figured why not try the same ice breaker with them. "I can't believe school is already starting. It doesn't seem like summer should be over does it?" 

They were a little more open with their responses but still not really in depth but gave generalized responses such as "no", "it went by too quickly", and "wish it was longer." The answers were pretty much given simultaneously followed by the awkward silence again as if they didn't want to speak directly to the stranger or when they knew the stranger was listening. This was a strange town. 

I was glad when the dull yellow bus began to lunge into view. It looked like it was older than me and sounded that way as well. When it got a little closer and you could hear the roar-clank of the old diesel engine pulling and cranking trying is hardest not to stall. "Dear Jesus, that's what's taking me to school... Will it make it?" was my only thought.