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Carla Saulter |
Eastbound 3, 1:45 p.m.
An off-duty driver is sitting in the front section, chatting with the on-duty driver. Both are apparently part-timers who work out of the same base (Atlantic).
On-duty driver: “I’m finally getting enough hours to cover everything; it was a struggle for a while.”
Off-duty driver: “That’s good. It’s always good when you can meet your bills.”
On-duty driver: “Yeah — for a while there they were calling, talking about they were going to ruin my credit. I said, ‘How are you going to ruin something I don’t even have?’”
Northbound 150, 2 p.m.
Two men in the front section are passing the time with small talk.
Man 1: “You have any kids?”
Man 2: “Yeah--six: two in Texas, two in California, and two in Seattle.”
Man 1: “Whoa.”
Man 2: “Papa was a rolling stone.”
Eastbound 27, 2:40 p.m.
Two men sitting in the front of the bus are making small talk. A couple of minutes in, they discover that they both spent time in Arizona.
Man 1: “Where in Arizona did you live?”
Man 2: “I started out in Yuma, but then I got tired of the snowbirds and bought some property near Avondale.”
Man 1: “Yuma? Why would anyone live in Yuma?”
Man 2: “Oh, I was just stupid. But I learned. When folks from Yuma die, they ask for an extra blanket in Hell.”
Eastbound 4, 3:10 p.m.
Two middle-aged men, who are apparently acquaintances, are making conversation in the back of the bus. One of them takes a drink from a bottle of pop.
Middle-aged man 1: “This tastes just like that orange ice cream we used to have back in the day — you know, with the cream in the middle? Want some?”
MAM 2: “No thanks, man.”
MAM 1: “Come on — have a taste! I don’t have any germs. Got a little cancer, but no germs.”
Southbound 48, 6:30 p.m.
Three young women from the University of Washington are sitting in the front section, passing the time on the ride home.
College woman 1: “Next year I’ll be a TA for juniors and seniors. They’re not going to respect me.”
CW 2: “Just bring a big-ass ruler on the first day and beat the crap out of one or two of ‘em.”
A discussion ensues about ways to intimidate undergrads, most which involve yelling and yardsticks. Some are more elaborate and require props and professional actors.
CW 1: “I just don’t want to be one of those stoned TAs coming in saying, ‘I don’t have anything prepared today, so why don’t you just work on homework? But if you have any questions, don’t ask me, ‘cause I have no idea.’”
Southbound 48, 7:15 p.m.
A woman speaking into a cell phone: “If my body were a country, my hair would be the rebellion.” |
