I don't know what it is about the bus that makes me want to sink into a cocoon of itunes, travel sized vodka shots and anonymity... maybe it's the nearby body odor that if unleashed could evacuate a small town, or perhaps it's the shameless visual violations and directionless mutterings of the squirrely looking guy to my left. Maybe it's the invisible passenger he's talking to, or maybe I just wish I had the power of invisibility.
Despite what's commonly referred to as "bus disgust," it is emerging as the most affordable option for travel now that our wallets are being pinched by the recession. It was on a recent excursion to Trader Joes, during a particularly intense craving for chocolate, that a young gentleman sat down beside me and I had to re-evaluate my hatred for public transport.
What struck me first were his sunken eyes, hurt and handsome, the protruding lips, cocoa skin (did I mention I was craving chocolate?), and the Gibson guitar resting between his knees. I realized it was all quite romantic, the three minute interval of time I would spend next to this intriguing stranger wondering who he was...
But what should I say? Ice-breaker, ice-breaker, quick the clock was ticking! I decided to go with the idiotic observation approach:
"So. You're a musician."
He smiled. "I try to be anyway."
What can I say, from then on sparks were ricocheting between our bus seats like a fireworks show. His name was Harlan, and he was getting his masters in English during the day and playing in a band by night. He read Kant and Camus and told me he once met Muhammad Yunus.
Finally, when the bus unfortunately didn't break down before Trader Joe's, I worked up the courage to ask for his number. He hesitated a moment and then smiled and told me. I hurried off the bus, flashed him a smile and made my way to the giant chocolate brick section of TJ's. Maybe, I thought, while idling in the checkout line, the bus was unexplored dating territory- providing the brief pause in a city dwellers life where they have the opportunity to connect with another person. Granted, the chances of meeting a sexy musician were slim to none but...
"$48.50 please." The clerk jolted me back into reality. I reached into my purse, fishing blindly for my wallet when it hit me- it wasn't there. That bastard robbed me!
What pissed me off most was that Harlan prevented me from eating that giant bar of milk chocolate. After canceling my credit cards, I called the number he had given me. A man with an Indian accent answered,
"India Palace, how can I help you?"
Oh cold reality. I was so quick to leave my cynicism at the bus-stop, but public transportation got the best of me once again. I eat at India Palace on occasion, and to this day I keep both eyes open for Harlan, just in case. If we ever do cross paths again I plan to ask him if he enjoyed the three dollars cash more than the lost opportunity to make out with me.
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