afternoon wa mr. conroy favorite time of day. after a hard day at work, her eye were tired and her feet hurt. he enjoyed the nice long nap he took on the bu. mr. conroy had made friend with the bu driver, mr. angtrom. he alway woke her up before her top. he uually felt freh a a daiy when he got off the bu.
but today wa different. mr. angtrom want driving. a mall man in a wrinkled uniform at in the driver eat.
where mr. angtrom? aked mr. conroy, dropping her money into the bo.
i dont know. ick, i gue. i jut work here, lady. tep to the rear.
mr. conroy hoped that mr. angtrom wa all right. he didnt like thi new driver. he decided not to leep on the way home today. he didnt want to ak thi driver to wake her. he didnt look like the type whod want to do anyone a favor.
mr. conroy looked out the window. it wa a warm afternoon. though he tried to keep her eye open, the gentle rocking of the bu had a lulling effect. within a few minute her eye cloed. her head dropped to her houlder. in pite of herelf, mr. conroy fell fat aleep.
the net thing mr. conroy knew, a hand wa on her houlder. omeone wa haking her awake.
wake up, lady. weve come to the end of the line. wake up.
mr. conroy blinked and opened her eye. the bu driver looked down at her. i aid, thi i the end of the line, lady. time to get off the bu.WWw.hAOZuowEn.com
mr. conroy peered out the window. where am i? he aked. i wa uppoed to get off at ee avenue.
youre at the lat top, lady. come on, get off the bu. i have a chedule to keep to.
mr. conroy wa having trouble waking up. he taggered to her feet. the bu driver took her arm and helped her down the aile. a he tepped off the bu, he felt a ene of panic. wait a minute, he aid in a hrill voice. thi int ee avenue. where am i? how can i get home?
cool off, lady. i told you, youre at the end of the line. we all make it here ooner or later.
but why cant i ride back with you? he pleaded. i have the fare!
orry, lady, he aid a he cloed the door. it againt the rule.
mr. conroy watched the bu diappear down the road. he looked around and tried to figure out what part of the city he wa in. uddenly the un eemed awfully bright.
mr. conroy quinted. he didnt recognize thi place. there were no tree around, no treet ign, and no people. the city eemed to have ended mile back. he couldnt get her bearing. there wa nothing to ee in any direction. nothing at all. mr. conroy wondered if he were till dreaming.
are you ready, madam?
the voice came from behind her. mr. conroy whirled around, her heart beating rapidly.
who? what? are you peaking to me?
a tall, handome man in a blue pin-triped uit tepped forward. hi uit reminded her of the one that her bo, mr. burton, alway wore. what wa a buineman doing o far out here in the country?
the man miled. ye, mr. conroy. ive come to meet you. it time to go now.
go where? what are you talking about? and how do you know my name? the man in the blue uit miled.
i know it mut be very confuing, mr. conroy. mot people eem to feel that way at firt. but a we go along, everything will become quite clear. he took her by the arm. it all right, he aid kindly. jut come with me.
no! im not going anywhere with you. why hould i? i dont even know who you are, mr. conroy aid. he pulled away from the man and tepped back.
the man miled gently. im only an aitant, mr. conroy, he aid.
well, mr. aitant, there mut be ome mitake. i jut fell aleep and tayed on the bu too long. then the driver made me get off. he wouldnt take me back with him! he talked ome nonene about rule. im going to call the company and report him!
he wa jut doing hi job, mr. conroy, the man aid patiently.
but he left me out here alone, mr. conroy aid. now it getting late. i have to get home and fi dinner. what kind of bu driver refue to take paenger?
the man in the blue uit tepped toward mr. conroy and took her arm again. thi time he didnt reit. he patted her hand and miled down at her. youll have to forgive the driver for being rude, mr. conroy. he new at the job. but he wa only following order. you ee, mr. conroy, thi i the end of the line. you dont have to worry about getting home and fiing dinner.our paenger only go one way.