The wolf on the Westside

001 The Stranger

"There was this really big dog.........Down by the tracks"

"You saw a Dingo you nit"

"But it was grey.."

"Maybe a Stray...... Or a lost dog."

I lower my head, the sun burns through the storefront, lightly pricking my skin. I nibble on the rice noodles of my pho. An odd lunch choice, primarily a mistake, as the humidity of the afternoon swallows the place whole. I force myself to finish, as the food did cost me.

Stepping out, I inhale, the scents of main street, cigarettes, marijuana, traces of elicit drugs, piss. I need a new city. I cross the road and sit on the steps of the Max Webber Library. My phone vibrates, I take it out of my purse to check.
Jamie:
Nat, meet me at St Andrews primary.

I decide not to question it, it must be important. I type my reply.

Natalie:
What time?

Jamie: as soon as possible. I'm already here.

Bloody Dick. I get up from the steps and walk with haste to the station. At peak, the station is bustling with students and young degenerates. I weave through. The bus stops are already packed with people, lines and crowds begin to form and fade with each bus arriving and departing. I get to stand A, that'll take me to breakfast road. Silly name for a road, although no one ever really questions it.

I join the growing line to get on the bus. I turn to check for its arrival and alas, bus 753 arrives. I pull out my opal card as I board the bus, hold it to the reader, it gives off the "ding" and I move on to take the seat in the middle of the bus. As more and more tuck themselves into the bus, I spot an unusual bloke. Black ripped jeans and a white tattered shirt. With the trends going on right now, I can't be sure if he fell off a hill, or if it's his intention to look like that. He shuffles to my empty side and seats himself on the edge, hanging off as to not make me uncomfortable. His skin slightly tanned,  Light brown, wavy hair, a soft jaw, he didn't look like someone who would throw himself off hills. Although, he does smell strongly of a dog. Perhaps he has a few? I turn my head to look out the window, the bustle of peak hour brimming with loud school girls and unruly youngsters.

His scent continued to stick in the air, almost as if he were possibly to be a - 

My train of thought was cut, he turned his head to look at me and immediately got up to leave the bus. I watched him as he did a small hop off and walked away, almost as if he'd forgotten something. 

He turned to look and stared at me through the bus window, his nose, crinkled and his lip slightly curled as if a bad smell hung in the air. 

The doors of the bus then closed and I was on my way. 

**

I stepped off the bus, the school on the other end of the street, I begin my walk, the sting of the October sun getting warmer each minute. 

I cross the road, Jamie leaning on the gate, his eyes on his phone, fingers tapping away. I approach and he sees me come through. He stands straight, his black hair looked brown in the sun.

"Nat, Look at this." he holds his phone to my face to show me a blurry image of what looked to be a large dog sniffing around the nearby creek.