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New York Bus Stop |
| Written by strider7901 | |
| Saturday, 09 February 2008 | |
Angela fumbled with her coat for a few seconds before finding a button.
It was getting colder and she hated the wind. As another breeze rush
through her; she winced at the invasion between her legs. Her dress
flapped against her calves but wasn't loud enough to muffle the subtle
short conversations around her. Alas, she was doing this for her
fiancé's mother. Maybe she should have worn the black suit instead.Clouds above her exposed a wonderful range of color. Sure, it was cloudy and wet and cold, but there was something in the air that made her crack a small smile. She looked at the dark blue clouds that threatened to snow...maybe offered another slushy storm. Busy bodies laughed as they passed her, and children grinned about the next holiday. She loved it. Stuffing a gloved hand in her pocket, Angela felt the pressure around her finger. Angela wasn't used to the ring but she dared not take it off. She bit her lip to refrain from giggling at a memory. Oh, how did she threaten and scream when she found it missing. And how did her cheeks grow red when she discovered the metal clinging to her glove. She shivered when another breeze whipped past her body. Clinging to the material and keeping a close eye on her bag, she felt the cellphone's weight in her other pocket. It was all she worried about. No. There were a thousand things running through her mind. The man next to her wouldn't stop looking at her. Sparks of questions shifted on what her fiancé's mother was thinking at the moment and what she could offer her new family. It was absolutely nothing. Nothing. They were filled with money and she was nothing. A raindrop fell on her nose. Fantastic, another day without snow. "Hey, why don't you sit down already?" Angela turned around, staring at the couple behind her. The man who was staring at her earlier didn't look so ominous as she thought. In fact, he smiled while holding his wife. She was pregnant and fast asleep on his shoulder. "Pardon me?" She sounded rude but didn't mean to. The entire day was filled of anxiety: airline delays, traffic, packing, and worried she forgot that little something back home. Every little thing was frightening or needed to be snapped. The man wrinkled his nose and could sense fatigue in her voice. "Come on. You're making me nervous. But it won’t come for another twenty minutes." She sighed, thinking. Maybe everyone was heading over to see family, too. After all, it was a few days before Thanksgiving. "I'm sorry." She grabbed her bag and found an empty wet seat. Droplets of the coming storm wasn't helping the situation either. "You can sit here." Again, he smiled and offered a seat next to him. A plastic cover protected the couple. They were all the only ones at the bus stop, so she couldn’t find an excuse why someone else should have it. It seems as the day continued, she was losing more and reasons to everything. A light breeze washed over his brown hair; he looked tired, too. After wrestling with her thoughts, she caved in and agreed. She nodded and sat down. "Julie is snoring. Excuse me for that." He was so oblivious to Angela's worries. "The last bus ride was a killer for her." "Oh." She felt thirteen again. She didn't know how to fit in much less respond with interest. There were too many things to think about rather than "excusing" someone's exhaustion. He gently took Angela's gloved fingers; his hand was bare but very warm. Lifting her eyebrows from surprise, he shook them gently like he was about to kiss the glove. But he didn't. "'name's Joseph. Joe actually, but whichever." "Angela...Ball." "You had to think about your last name, did you?" She managed to laugh, "I'm getting married. It's hard to forget your other name." He let go of Angela’s fingers, and held his wife's hand which settled gracefully on his lap. She was beautiful and so was he. "It's hard because it's in your blood. You should never forget something like that." "I know." "Never," he continued, "It's like forgetting your past." She nodded, wondering what he was talking about. "You see. My wife and I are going to Jersey. Her mama resides there. Farm...chickens...cows..." He brushed under his nose and his eyes shifted slightly to Angela's cheeks. He continued about the farm life his dear wife lived before coming to New York. As he talked, she could see he was observant as well. He studied her cheeks, her lips, and the small mole above her right eyebrow. She didn’t know if she should smile or pretend he never existed. He could be there just to snag her bag. Then he looked at her eyes. Angela's eyes. "...and before we knew what happened. She wanted to come with me. You should have seen her mama's face. She was angry and scared. Angry because she was leaving and scared because she didn't want Julie forgetting..." "Forgetting?" "About her family." "I'm sure Julie knew better--" "--oh, she did! And every quarter we spend a weekend visiting. Sure, it's obvious now. Hey, are you going back home?" She suddenly felt the tables turn. Angela didn't feel comfortable about explaining her situation. Her and his mother's situation. "No..." She paused, suddenly visualizing her future mother-in-law's face. Last time she met the family, they made her feel like she was nothing. Coming from a broken house, she might have been nothing. Goodness, Angela still lives in a dying town. "I'm visiting, too." "Lovely! I hope you have a grand time." He grinned. "Thanks." She noticed the rain was turning into snow. Clouds lightened to a dull grey color, and traffic slowed. She was starting to think the bus was going to be late. Very late. Fantastic. She twirled the ring around her fingers and her thoughts wondered once more. The city was huge. Angela wished her future mother didn’t have to live here. Who would, anyway? What is wrong with the countryside or a small town...in New Jersey? She sighed before pulling out a map of Manhattan from her bag. Why couldn't Jason fly with her? Why couldn't they both confront her? It was always his job and his busy life. Why did he have to have a promotion now? It was his mother, not her's. Angela wanted to collapse. Right there on the slippery concrete that was dangerously adjacent to the traffic. As she hated to admit it; she was second guessing this new marriage. Ever since he started rising the corporate trail, he simply didn't have time for much of anything, anymore. She sighed again, staring at a coffee shop across the street. How long was it going to last? "Hey, hey, Miss Ball..." She bit her lip and felt something tap her shoulder. Angela jumped from anxiety, staring blankly at Joe. "Yeah?" "The bus." The long streets of New York perfectly matched the tall buildings. It was a good five minutes before transport would stop in front of them, but it was clearly apparent from afar. This wasn't her favorite city. "So it is." She mumbled. Angela grabbed her bag, thankful it didn't get snatched, and stood up. She placed the map on the seat and noticed Joe. She smiled but he didn't seem to catch it. He was too busy holding his wife, and whispering softly in her ear. He touched her stomach, too. A growing family. A family to never forget about. She smiled again; a little wider this time. Popping the collar, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed Jason's number. As the bus approached, she watched the couple walk on board. She waited for the third ring. "Hello?" "Yeah. Can you hear me?" "Yes. Are you there?" "No. Well, yes. I'm in New York, but I think we need to talk." Copyright 2008 strider7901 |
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