[ There is sex in this story, but most of it isn't enjoyable. I have interviewed enough young women who have told their stories enough like the first part of this one that I felt compelled to tell it, for them. I pray their stories end up being better for them. Your comments and votes are welcomed. ]
The bus bench could comfortably hold three people, if they were friendly. Usually someone comes to the bench when it is empty, picks an end and sits. The next person waiting for the bus sits at the other end. Six months ago a young woman started arriving at six-twenty and always sat on the Vermont end of the bench. In one or two minutes an older man arrived, said "Good Morning" and sat at the other end of the bench.
The young woman looked barely old enough to be out of school. She dressed in earth colors, dark pants and her hair was always in a pony tail. She wore glasses and carried a canvas purse. She was slender and had nice sized boobs, not huge but nice sized and shaped, the man noticed.
She got back off at the same stop at seven in the evening or about ten minutes later.
After a month of her routine something changed. One morning, when she arrived at the bench a man about twenty-five was sitting in her spot. He was nicely dressed, very thin, short hair and had a well trimmed goatee. As she sat down he asked if this bus would take him downtown.
She said she thought so. On that first day that was the end of the conversation. On the second day he thanked her, telling her that he got to where he was going with no problem. They talked briefly and the bus came.
Four days out of five he was there and spoke to her. One morning when she arrived he had two cups of coffee waiting. She tried to refuse politely, but in the end she gave in. They tossed the paper cups in the trash when the bus arrived.
The next morning he stood as he gave her the coffee and when they sat he wasn't exactly at the end of the bench any more. Each day he got closer. On Friday they sat next to each other. Looking at her face one could see she was getting comfortable being with him.
They sat next to each other on the bus as well for a few days.
He found out where she worked, what she did, who she lived with, that she was eighteen and he discovered a lot about what she believed about herself. She was glad to be working. Not only did she like having money of her own but it gave her time to be away from her parents.
She shared a few stories with him about how her mother spoke to her, the things she said and her attitude. Her mother told her she was fat. She would never get married. She had worked hard in school but at home her mother had her raising her brothers and sisters and so she didn't get her homework done all the time.
The man complimented her looks, her strength, her willingness to work and he told her she looked older than eighteen. Maybe twenty.. One morning he brought her a rose. She blushed and held it tightly as they boarded the bus.
Friday of that week he asked her out. They agreed to meet there at the bench at seven-fifteen, go for some dinner and conversation. She was nervous all day long. She was pretty, he said. She was smart, he said. She wanted to believe him. Her dates from high school were mostly gropes and attempts to get into her pants. She hadn't had a second date in her life. When the boys found out she wasn't going to give it up, they didn't come back.
When she got off the bus he was sitting on the bench. He stood and took her hand for the two block walk to the restaurant. She liked how it felt to have him hold her hand.
She ate a good meal. He paid for it and even ordered a glass of wine for them. The server looked at Marie like she was going to ask for her ID to verify she was old enough to drink, then turned and walked away. The wine was her first taste. Her parents did not approve of alcohol.
It was almost nine when they walked out of the restaurant. He broke the news to her then.
"I won't be on the bus any more. My car was being fixed and it's ready. Starting Monday, I won't need the bus."
"I'll miss seeing you every day." She didn't know what else to say.
He gave her a business card. On it were just his name and a phone number. She read it and then looked at his face. "You can call me any time. In fact I'd like it if you would. If you'd give me your number I'd call you."
She hesitated. Momma wouldn't like a man calling for her at home. He seemed to sense why she hesitated. He pulled a cell phone from his pocket and handed it to her.
"This is a gift from me to you. I get a special rate. The number is on the back and the phone is yours. The plan I have only allows local calls so don't try to call your Grandma in Ohio."
"This is too generous! I can't accept!"
"Is that you talking, or your mother?"
She stopped and then put the phone in her purse. "Thank you, Tony. I will call you."
"Especially if there's trouble at home and you need to get away for a while. I'll take care of you. I really like you."
"I'll remember that."
Not wanting her mother to see him she left him at the corner before she was home and walked the last half block alone. As she opened the door she heard her mother's voice.
"It's about damned time! I need help getting these rotten kids into bed! Where the hell have you been?"
"A friend from work and I went for dinner." She went to work herding children into their beds. The tirade continued. Her mother wanted to be upset. She kept asking why this and where that questions but didn't listen to the answers. Even after the kids were in bed and quiet Marie's mother kept up the tirade.
When the kids were in bed her mother got close to Marie and a whole new upset erupted. "You've been drinking!"
"I had a small glass of wine but I didn't finish it."
"You know how God feels about drinking! You think I'll allow a drunk to live here?"
"Momma, I'm not a drunk. I've had half a glass of wine with dinner. In my whole life!"
"That's how it starts! Pretty soon you'll want a bottle in your room. Then you'll start fooling around with men!"
She spit the last word out as though she had said something that made her mouth hurt. Marie looked at her mother and said, "If you hate men so much why are you still married?"
"I found one that at least helps pay the bills. When he cheats he doesn't rub my face in it!"
"Maybe I can find a good one, too."
"You couldn't find your fat ass with a flashlight! Who are you kidding?"
Marie walked away. Fat and stupid. The logic of why her mother would want her to take care of the younger children if she was stupid never crossed her mind. Just the judgment that she was fat and stupid.
In her room her little sister acted like she was asleep until after the door was closed and she couldn't hear her mother ranting through the door. Then she looked at Marie and saw the tears.
In a whisper she said, "Momma doesn't mean it. She's just tired and Daddy didn't come home for dinner tonight."
"Did he call?" Marie whispered too.
"No. Momma waited for a long time then she got angry and threw his food away."
"Let's go to sleep and maybe Momma will too."
