Bus buddies
Everyone was ignoring that woman needing help
I have had two car accidents on the highway already, which is why I am not such a confident driver. Since I live in a place where the buses are accessible and the transit system in our city is reliable, I am determined not to drive anymore. My commute to work during morning rush hour is rather relaxing and stress-free because I enjoy the 45-minute bus ride, with the freedom to take a nap or play a game on my phone.
One day while I was getting in line at the bus terminal, I noticed a lady in her 70s who seemed to be lost and very frustrated because nobody was helping her. She had approached quite a few people asking for directions, but they just shrugged their shoulders and stared at her blankly.
I felt that her problem should be mine and asked her where she wanted to go. Much to my surprise, the place that she mentioned rang a bell, since it is one of the stops along my route.
As soon as our bus pulled in, I explained to the driver where she wanted to get off so she wouldn’t miss her stop. I even sat close by just to keep an eye on her in case the driver had forgotten.
When it was time for her to get off, I waived and gave her a big smile. She was so touched by my act of kindness. The following day, when she saw me at the terminal, she expressed her gratitude for what I did, and even went further to invite me for coffee at her place. Since then, we have become bus buddies.
Susan Pangilinan, Toronto