Point Of Contact

It was a cold day in the desert. Everyone hustling to get from one place to the other. Those lucky enough to have cars driving past the bus stop on the left hand side of the road. You can hear the cars and beeps and the occasional screech of tires. A little girl that wasn't much older than 3 or 4 bundled up hidden behind her mother as they eagerly waited for the bus to come to take them to their destination. He mother was a teen mother who had a hard life growing up she came from a single parent home that was torn apart by drug use and abuse. She was determined that even though she started off on the same path that it would be different for her daughter. The thoughts of past traumas swirling in her head as she struggled to keep her and her daughter warm and safe. As they sit there waiting nd listening to the sounds of busy traffic and just the hustle and bustle of the day they see the comforting sight of the big warm bus on its way to pick them up.

On that bus you have the driver who is doing his best to maneuver through traffic to keep his important schedule. He was a strong burley man, middle aged that had a kind face and bubbly welcoming personality. He was fairly new to the job. He still had the sparkle in his eye that made his riders feel like they would safety get to where they were going with little trouble. This was the drivers 4th career change. Recently out off of a divorce that shook him to the core. His wife left with his best friend and with that broke his heart. All the pain stashed some where in the back of his mind. It only really hit him when he was home alone in the dark. When he was driving though no time to worry about what coulda shoulda woulda. He hears the ring of the bell signaling a riders departure and he also sees the cold little girl and her mother at the same stop.

He quickly but safely pulls up to the stop. He opens the doors feeling the chill of the day. He carefully watches the traffic as well as the people getting on and off the bus. And welcomes the familiar faces of the little girl and her mother as the mother flashes the buss pass for them both. He says in a loud deep voice, "it's a cold one out". "come on in and warm up" he thunders. The little girl smiles as the driver is a familiar face that for some reason gives her a sense of comfort. Her mother hurries her along to sit under the warmth of the heater towards the middle of the bus. She quickly scans the bus to see who all is riding with them.

As she scans the bus she only sees an older gentleman quietly reading a book of short stories by Anton Chekhov immersed in the story. A couple of tweens huddled together who look like they were cutting class and contemplating how they would get to the mall with $6.52 in their pockets. Their eyes filled with fear and excitement. She briefly made eye contact but the kids quickly made look away as if it was their mother looking upon them with disapproving eyes. She sees a familiar face I the young man with the crazy look in his eyes who seems so lost as her tries to decipher what is real and what is just a part of his illness. As she holds her little girl a little closer.

All the stories and lives that lead to this moment. Seemingly, different thoughts running through their mind fighting demons of the past. Struggling to make sense of today. These people who came from different backgrounds but whos paths all brought them here to this same place in time. Where a simple smile or eye contact links their destiny together. Just a normal cold day in the desert on the city bus. What are the odds?