A Minor Inconvenience

Destinations and the reasons for them differ immeasurably. But plans of how people arrive to them are mostly made because of financial means. But not always. Sometimes it can be for convenience, time restraint, or even aerophobia/ fear of flying. For whatever the reason, Janie found herself travelling on the same Greyhound bus ride that night as the two elderly women she watched from the seat she had taken behind theirs. They looked to both be grandmothers.

One grandmother, a short, plump white lady wore a brown tweed jacket with a brooch on the lapel that read, "Nana." She was friendly enough and had smiled at Janie as she ambled to her seat earlier. If Janie had to guess, she'd say that this Nana could have certainly afforded herself a plane ticket. It was odd that she chose to go where she needed to go by bus.

Most people who looked like her wouldn't have opted to join a load of full of mostly brown and black people as their first choice. At least, that was her opinion and experience in life. She was a young Mexican-American woman on her way to visit her married older sister. Her parents had reluctantly given her permission after high school graduation and this would be her first solo trip, making her way from Laredo to Shreveport.

It was already dark and late in the evening when one of the stops was Austin. That is where Janie first saw "Nana." She was lucky to find a seat, walking almost to the back of the bus where there was an aisle seat next to a snoring mid-aged man, unkempt in appearance.

It was mostly quiet except for an occasional muted whisper or two. The inside lights only scattered. Many wanted to rest as some of their journeys had been long. Some listened to music with their headphones. The rattling of the bus and the bumpy ride were a rude source of ambience to go along with the comfort of cramped leg space.

And soon, the bus stopped somewhere between Austin and Waco...maybe Temple. Some of the passengers were annoyed that there wasn't enough time for a smoke break. Janie was glad because she didn't like the after-smell.

She noticed that the man who had been snoring next to Nana had departed as well as the couple next to her on the other side of the bus. And that is when she saw three small African-American girls timidly finding their way towards the empty seats. Behind them appeared the "other" grandmother, even older and far more worn down by life than Nana. She carried a sleeping infant in her arms along with several bags. Janie wondered where the mother of this brood was. Nana was most likely wondering the same thing.

Two of the young girls sat together in the chair next to Nana, excited about looking out of the window. The oldest child took the assorted bags to help her grandmother. As the old lady sat down, obviously tired, she let out a big sigh. One of the younger girls asked Grandma if they could have their chips and soda now. Exasperated, Grandma said, "You'll have to hold the baby while I get them," and attempted to reach across the aisle for the hand off.

Nana spoke up, "Do you mind if I hold the baby?" No other words were needed as the sleeping bundle was placed in her care. The baby fit quite easily within Nana's arms. And gratefulness covered Grandma's face.

As they rode to Dallas, no words were spoken. The baby roused a couple of times and a bottle was handed to Nana, who appeared to be skillful in the art of nurturing babies. Grandma dozed and bobbed her head for a few winks, too.

As the bus made its stop, both Nana and Janie would layover for a new bus. Janie noticed that Nana's jacket had a big wet spot where the infant had made his abode. All part of taking care of a baby. What goes in must come out. Janie had changed many of her nephew's and nieces diapers.

Janie thought about Nana. She didn't have to help, but she did. It had even come with a small price to pay...a minor inconvenience. She wasn't related and was of a different race, but there had been no hesitation. Maybe the human race didn't need boundaries, after all, she thought.