The Last Stop

详细内容

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AfternoonwasMrs.Conroy'sfavoritetimeofday.Afteraharddayatwork,hereyesweretiredandherfeethurt.Sheenjoyedthenicelongnapshetookonthebus.Mrs.Conroyhadmadefriendswiththebusdriver,Mr.Angstrom.Healwayswokeherupbeforeherstop.Sheusuallyfeltfreshasadaisywhenshegotoffthebus.

Buttodaywasdifferent.Mr.Angstromwasn'tdriving.Asmallmaninawrinkleduniformsatinthedriver'sseat.

"Where'sMr.Angstrom?"askedMrs.Conroy,droppinghermoneyintothebox.

"Idon'tknow.Sick,Iguess.Ijustworkhere,lady.Steptotherear."

Mrs.ConroyhopedthatMr.Angstromwasallright.Shedidn'tlikethisnewdriver.Shedecidednottosleeponthewayhometoday.Shedidn'twanttoaskthisdrivertowakeher.Hedidn'tlooklikethetypewho'dwanttodoanyoneafavor.

Mrs.Conroylookedoutthewindow.Itwasawarmafternoon.Thoughshetriedtokeephereyesopen,thegentlerockingofthebushadalullingeffect.Withinafewminuteshereyesclosed.Herheaddroppedtohershoulders.Inspiteofherself,Mrs.Conroyfellfastasleep.

ThenextthingMrs.Conroyknew,ahandwasonhershoulder.Someonewasshakingherawake.

"Wakeup,lady.We'veetotheendoftheline.Wakeup."

Mrs.Conroyblinkedandopenedhereyes.Thebusdriverlookeddownather."Isaid,thisistheendoftheline,lady.Timetogetoffthebus."

Mrs.Conroypeeredoutthewindow."WhereamI?"sheasked."IwassupposedtogetoffatEssexAvenue."

"You'reatthelaststop,lady.eon,getoffthebus.Ihaveascheduletokeepto."

Mrs.Conroywashavingtroublewakingup.Shestaggeredtoherfeet.Thebusdrivertookherarmandhelpedherdowntheaisle.Asshesteppedoffthebus,shefeltasenseofpanic."Waitaminute,"shesaidinashrillvoice."Thisisn'tEssexAvenue.WhereamI?HowcanIgethome?"

"Cooloff,lady.Itoldyou,you'reattheendoftheline.Weallmakeitheresoonerorlater."

"Butwhycan'tIridebackwithyou?"shepleaded."Ihavethefare!"

"Sorry,lady,"hesaidasheclosedthedoor."It'sagainsttherules."

Mrs.Conroywatchedthebusdisappeardowntheroad.Shelookedaroundandtriedtofigureoutwhatpartofthecityshewasin.Suddenlythesunseemedawfullybright.

Mrs.Conroysquinted.Shedidn'trecognizethisplace.Therewerenotreesaround,nostreetsigns,andnopeople.Thecityseemedtohaveendedmilesback.Shecouldn'tgetherbearings.Therewasnothingtoseeinanydirection.Nothingatall.Mrs.Conroywonderedifshewerestilldreaming.

"Areyouready,Madam?"

Thevoicecamefrombehindher.Mrs.Conroywhirledaround,herheartbeatingrapidly.

"Who?What?Areyouspeakingtome?"

Atall,handsomemaninabluepin-stripedsuitsteppedforward.Hissuitremindedheroftheohatherboss,Mr.Burton,alwayswore.Whatwasabusinessmandoingsofarouthereinthecountry?

Themansmiled."Yes,Mrs.Conroy.I'veetomeetyou.It'stimetogonow."

"Gowhere?Whatareyoutalkingabout?Andhowdoyouknowmyname?"Themaninthebluesuitsmiled.

"Iknowitmustbeveryconfusing,Mrs.Conroy.Mostpeopleseemtofeelthatwayatfirst.Butaswegoalong,everythingwillbeequiteclear."Hetookherbythearm."It'sallright,"hesaidkindly."Justewithme."

"No!I'mnotgoinganywherewithyou.WhyshouldI?Idon'tevenknowwhoyouare,"Mrs.Conroysaid.Shepulledawayfromthemanandsteppedback.

Themansmiledgently."I'monlyanassistant,Mrs.Conroy,"hesaid.

"Well,Mr.Assistant,theremustbesomemistake.Ijustfellasleepandstayedonthebustoolong.Thenthedrivermademegetoff.Hewouldn'ttakemebackwithhim!Hetalkedsomenonsenseaboutrules.I'mgoingtocallthepanyandreporthim!"

"Hewasjustdoinghisjob,Mrs.Conroy,"themansaidpatiently.

"Butheleftmeoutherealone,"Mrs.Conroysaid."Nowit'sgettinglate.Ihavetogethomeandfixdinner.Whatkindofbusdriverrefusestotakepassengers?"

ThemaninthebluesuitsteppedtowardMrs.Conroyandtookherarmagain.Thistimeshedidn'tresist.Hepattedherhandandsmileddownather."You'llhavetofivethedriverforbeingrude,Mrs.Conroy.He'snewatthejob.Buthewasonlyfollowingorders.Yousee,Mrs.Conroy,thisistheendoftheline.Youdon'thavetoworryaboutgettinghomeandfixingdinner.Ourpassengersonlygooneway."