Bus Banter

It’s amazing the conversations that you hear on buses. Honestly, I’m tempted to stay on one all day long. I’d probably get my novel completed in no time. Maybe it’s unfortunate that I don’t use them more often, but I don’t for two reasons:

1) They are expensive
2) I hate buses (see earlier posts)

I was forced to travel today due to my stupid high-heeled shoes that were NOT designed to be walked in and a three- inch blister that threatened to weep any second (as did I!)…

Today, two women clambered on the bus after me. They looked normal enough. One was middle aged, with glasses and a long sour face. The other was younger, with plump features and a nice jolly face. They squeezed into the seat behind and started nattering at a rate that almost defied logic. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I can talk fast. But these two seemed to have no requirement to breathe.

I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on their conversation, but you do, don’t you? It’s human nature. Like if you see someone fall over on their arse, you have to fight the instinct not to laugh.

The conversation went like this. This is a true account. I can only assume that they both worked in the same shop.

“Poor Linda has to do all the deliveries now and she’s the manager. I mean, a manager shouldn’t have to clamber up and down the stairs in a sweat. It’s not right…”
“I know. But Angie can’t do it. She’s 65. She has a heart attack every time she goes up the stairs.”
Every time? Shit, she must be keeping the cardiac wards busy…
“But I can’t do deliveries with my chest…”
Maybe you should try using you arms then….
“I know. But you know that if I lift anything, my eyeballs could pop out…”

Yes. That is honestly what they said. I dread to think what the shop is like. It sounds like a set of a horror movie.
Even worse, I was sucking a spherical boiled mint at the time. It kind of felt wrong in my mouth after that…
I regretted getting off at my stop as I couldn’t find out more. I also can’t stop thinking about poor old Linda, trying to manage with those two!

a photo by eer7286 on Flickr.

Two Temper Tantrums and a Packet of Crisps…

I witnessed this week the thing the thing that most mums dread and all will have experienced at one point or other – the public temper tantrum.

This one was conducted by a small lad, not much older than my three year daughter, in Sainsburys. He was lying on the floor – face down in a star position screaming:

“I WANT POOH…!!”

I assumed he was referring to a promotional toothpaste, biscuit or toilet roll. Not an actual piece of faecal matter

The poor frazzled mum was trying hard to remain calm and focused, as the customers around her glared and tutted (apart from the parents of toddlers – we just shot her sympathetic looks and inwardly felt relief that it wasn’t us – THIS TIME)

I relayed this story later to a friend, describing the snot ridden boy and the fact that most people were horrified by his quite normal behaviour.

She laughed and proceeded to tell about her recent experience on a bus (yes – I know, another bus story) when her daughter kicked off. A woman in front of her took exception to the little girl’s tears and turned round, asking my friend not so politely if she could “quieten her down”

My friend, feeling a bit uncomfortable and wanting to avoid confrontation, dug around in her bag and found a bag of Wotsits which she decided would “do the job”

And they did, as the girl munched away happily not making a sound. That was until a huge sneeze overcame her and made her cry again.

This wasn’t so bad, as the nasty woman got off at the next stop – complete with tiny flecks of Wotsits stuck in her perfectly blow-dried hair.

My friend didn’t have the heart (or courage) to tell her.

Maybe people should learn to be more tolerant…