Stanley. Pat. & Bus Driver Gene.

1

Little did I know that my banana chip craving and need for bus fare change was part of a bigger plan. I don’t know if my smile was bigger today or if my retro glasses were just that cool, but as I was just nonchalantly munching away on dried fruit bits, I was repeatedly engaged in conversation by strangers.2

…Come to think of it, maybe it was the “weird food.” Haha…3

Anyhow, today I met Stanley. Watching him from a distance, I couldn’t tell whether or not he was homeless, and he certainly looked aged beyond his actual 54 years. He was black, or African-American, whatever suits you. He had very few teeth left on the bottom and none on top making his face look like a scowling bull dog. He was very self-conscious about this fact and asked me if I knew anything about Deltech’s dental program. He needs new dentures. He kept apologizing for spitting on me when he talked, I just shrugged and said in an upbeat tone, “It’s okay, I’m wearing sunglasses.”4

He informed me that he hoped the bus came soon because he desperately needed to use the bathroom and was hungry. I could only help the latter of those, so he sucked on a few of my banana chips.5

Stanley may have been clad in a tattered windbreaker, a grey knit cap, and an outfit of worn out gray shirt, pants, and holey, but he was also wearing a big smile and had eyes that were full of life that twinkled when he spoke about his children.6

Stanley was a passionate Democrat that was on disability and down on his luck, but thoroughly optimistic about the future. Normally, I would have drawn on my prejudices for the typical stereotype of people that fall into this group, but instead I just decided to love.7

We were able to talk about why I vote following my morals, and Christ’s love. He said some people he once worked for were Christians, and after seeing him continuously walking to work in the rain, they just gave him a car asking nothing in return.8

Stanley doesn’t see his grown up kids that much anymore, but he’s comforted in knowing that they have a better life since he worked hard to put them through college.9

He used to make pretty good money as a milkman, “One of the only black milkmen you’ve heard of I reckon.” Unfortunately he fell down the stairs on one of his delivery runs and irreparably destroyed his back.10

I wish I knew Christians with his optimism.11

Pat’s a 37 year old woman that is almost in her second year of unhappy marriage to a man she has been with for the last 10 years.12

Her look can be described as haggard and grunge.13

Her only daughter was taken from her by child protective services and she is not allowed to contact her.14

She has no car.15

She feels alone except for the occasional outings with her sisters and interactions with people that she meets on the bus.16

Tomorrow Pat is going to have some fun by going to the slot machines with her sister.17

Like me, she is the oldest and has no brothers, only sisters and they share the same distance in ages that I do with my sisters.18

Pat suffers constantly due to her need for dental work.19

She doesn’t have a job and isn’t looking. She has given up on life. Everything for her is going through the motions. Gambling gives her momentary joy when she has the money.20

Pat was hungry. She hadn’t eaten all day. Pat had never tried banana chips. I gave her the bag and she repeatedly thanked me. Even after two thank-you’s she didn’t seem to really believe I was giving them to her. I said, “Aww it’s nothing, I really just got them for bus fair.”21

She got off at her apartment complex and said, “I think it will be easy to remember your name, June.”22

“Have a wonderful day, Pat. God bless you.”23

I smiled brightly as I wiggled up to a seat on the front of the bus and said, “How are ya, Gene?!”24

“I’m good, I like your new sunglasses there.”25

“Well, thank you, I’m bringing back the retro look. Haha.”26

Gene and I have an unspoken agreement to greet each other kindly when I get on the bus and make small talk about the bus fare box not liking me, or the weather outside. We save our personal talks for between the last two stops on my way home when it’s just him and me.27

Mostly we talk about families, the economy, and funny bus patrons. We tell each other about places that are hiring because his son’s looking for work too. Gene notices when I didn’t show up on the Tuesday or Thursday I was supposed to and asks me where I was.28

He knows that I love the Lord and sometimes we talk about it and sometimes we just… talk.29

He swears that out of four girls there’s got to be at least one black sheep. He’s always asking me questions to try to find out who it is. Sometimes I get his goat by saying I partied the weekend before. He raises his eyebrows at me and just says, “Really?” in an skeptical tone. He knows I don’t party and never really have, though he doesn’t fully believe me.30

“You got me, Gene, I went to Bible study and stayed up late watching movies and eating gummy bears.”31

“June, they’re changing my route in a couple months. I’m gonna miss this.”32

“I’m gonna miss it too, Gene.”