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.

Themansmiledgently."Imonlyanassistant,Mrs.Conroy,"hesaid.

"Well,Mr.Assistant,theremustbesomemistake.Ijustfellasleepandstayedonthebustoolong.Thenthedrivermademegetoff.Hewouldnttakemebackwithhim!Hetalkedsomenonsenseaboutrules.Imgoingtocallthecompanyandreporthim!"

"Hewasjustdoinghisjob,Mrs.Conroy,"themansaidpatiently.

"Butheleftmeoutherealone,"Mrs.Conroysaid."Nowitsgettinglate.Ihavetogethomeandfixdinner.Whatkindofbusdriverrefusestotakepassengers?"

ThemaninthebluesuitsteppedtowardMrs.Conroyandtookherarmagain.Thistimeshedidntresist.Hepattedherhandandsmileddownather."Youllhavetoforgivethedriverforbeingrude,Mrs.Conroy.Hesnewatthejob.Buthewasonlyfollowingorders.Yousee,Mrs.Conroy,thisistheendoftheline.Youdonthavetoworryaboutgettinghomeandfixingdinner.Ourpassengersonlygooneway."