strangers with candy

by Eli

i made it to denver and back just fine. i’ll be posting more specifically about that trip at a later time, but until then, i must inform you (my adorable readers) about something that happened to me on the way to the airport that is still with me now.

the seattle buses are awesome. i have dedicated myself to them (by not having a car) and they still support me more than i could have imagined. one of the coolest features of the bus system is the route to the airport and back. it cost just the same as a regular bus ride ($1.25) and it only takes about 45 minutes each way.

from the Ave, i caught the 73 headed downtown at noon, and while riding that route i immediately noticed the girl sitting across from me. she was quite the 20-something-hipster with outrageously large sunglasses, knee high boots over her jeans, and a tiny little jacket that barely covered her chest. she was listening to her iPod Nano and couldn’t care less what anyone else was doing while she steadied the luggage at her feet.

next i noticed another girl who got up to ask the bus driver a question during one of the stops. i couldn’t hear much, but i did catch that she didn’t speak english that well and was asking which bus to take from downtown to the airport.

the 71 pulled into it’s stop downtown and we deboarded. the non-english-speaker got off before me and the hipster after. as i exited the bus i noticed that the Non had stopped at the bus kiosk to check the time tables and map of the bus to the airport. i had a split second urge to give her some help and direct her to the stop since i knew exactly where it was and was heading there myself. i don’t know why i didn’t say anything, i just didn’t.

i made my way one block west and one block south to the next stop. it was 12:16 and the 194 would be arriving at 12:18 to whisk me off to the airport. from this point i could see where i’d come from as well as the Hipster dragging her luggage across the street in my direction. i thought that soon i’d see the Non crossing the street as well. the hipster neared the stop and began inspecting the time tables. i noticed that she was checking the tables for the 174, which definitely made it’s way to the airport but at a much slower and stop-heavy rate. after checking the tables, the hipster walked off in search of something to do while she waited. i checked the 174 tables after she left and sure enough, the last 174 came at 12:15 but the next one wasn’t going to arrive until 12:45. i thought about letting her know that the 194 made it there much quicker and was going to arrive in just a few minutes, but i didn’t, and i don’t know why.

sure enough, just as the hipster rounded the corner and with the Non nowhere in site, the 194 arrived just as stated. as it whisked me off to the airport without either of my friends on board, i genuinly felt bad about it. seconds is all it would have taken. seconds, to help them out and get them on their way faster and friendlier. i was and still am ashamed of myself, and i will do everything i can to not let it happen again in the future.