最后中止(The Last Stop)

afternoonwasmrs.conroysfavoritetimeofday.afteraharddayatwork,hereyesweretiredandherfeethurt.sheenjoyedthenicelongnapshetookonthebus.mrs.conroyhadmadefriendswiththebusdriver,mr.angstrom.healwayswokeherupbeforeherstop.sheusuallyfeltfreshasadaisywhenshegotoffthebus.

buttodaywasdifferent.mr.angstromwasntdriving.asmallmaninawrinkleduniformsatinthedriversseat.

"wheresmr.angstrom?"askedmrs.conroy,droppinghermoneyintothebox.

"idontknow.sick,iguess.ijustworkhere,lady.steptotherear."

mrs.conroyhopedthatmr.angstromwasallright.shedidntlikethisnewdriver.shedecidednottosleeponthewayhometoday.shedidntwanttoaskthisdrivertowakeher.hedidntlooklikethetypewhodwanttodoanyoneafavor.

mrs.conroylookedoutthewindow.itwasawarmafternoon.thoughshetriedtokeephereyesopen,thegentlerockingofthebushadalullingeffect.withinafewminuteshereyesclosed.herheaddroppedtohershoulders.inspiteofherself,mrs.conroyfellfastasleep.

thenextthingmrs.conroyknew,ahandwasonhershoulder.someonewasshakingherawake.

"wakeup,lady.wevecometotheendoftheline.wakeup."

mrs.conroyblinkedandopenedhereyes.thebusdriverlookeddownather."isaid,thisistheendoftheline,lady.timetogetoffthebus."

mrs.conroypeeredoutthewindow."whereami?"sheasked."iwassupposedtogetoffatessexavenue."

"youreatthelaststop,lady.comeon,getoffthebus.ihaveascheduletokeepto."

mrs.conroywashavingtroublewakingup.shestaggeredtoherfeet.thebusdrivertookherarmandhelpedherdowntheaisle.asshesteppedoffthebus,shefeltasenseofpanic."waitaminute,"shesaidinashrillvoice."thisisntessexavenue.whereami?howcanigethome?"

"cooloff,lady.itoldyou,youreattheendoftheline.weallmakeitheresoonerorlater."

"butwhycantiridebackwithyou?"shepleaded."ihavethefare!"

"sorry,lady,"hesaidasheclosedthedoor."itsagainsttherules."

mrs.conroywatchedthebusdisappeardowntheroad.shelookedaroundandtriedtofigureoutwhatpartofthecityshewasin.suddenlythesunseemedawfullybright.

mrs.conroysquinted.shedidntrecognizethisplace.therewerenotreesaround,nostreetsigns,andnopeople.thecityseemedtohaveendedmilesback.shecouldntgetherbearings.therewasnothingtoseeinanydirection.nothingatall.mrs.conroywonderedifshewerestilldreaming.

"areyouready,madam?"

thevoicecamefrombehindher.mrs.conroywhirledaround,herheartbeatingrapidly.

"who?what?areyouspeakingtome?"

atall,handsomemaninabluepin-stripedsuitsteppedforward.hissuitremindedheroftheonethatherboss,mr.burton,alwayswore.whatwasabusinessmandoingsofarouthereinthecountry?

themansmiled."yes,mrs.conroy.ivecometomeetyou.itstimetogonow."

"gowhere?whatareyoutalkingabout?andhowdoyouknowmyname?"themaninthebluesuitsmiled.

"iknowitmustbeveryconfusing,mrs.conroy.mostpeopleseemtofeelthatwayatfirst.butaswegoalong,everythingwillbecomequiteclear."hetookherbythearm."itsallright,"hesaidkindly."justcomewithme."

"no!imnotgoinganywherewithyou.whyshouldi?idontevenknowwhoyouare,"mrs.conroysaid.shepulledawayfromthemanandsteppedback.