Which was why it caught her by surprise when she opened the doors at a dimly lit stop and a little old lady, bent with age with wisps of white hair escaping her touque, gave her a toothless smile. She guessed the woman to be in her late 70s. Dani hurried to pull the lever that lowered the bus. Once it was level with the curb, the wizened woman stepped on with the help of her cane.
“Thank you. Bless you, child,” she called out as she took the closest seat to Dani.
Dani turned to check to make sure she was sitting before she released the handbrake. “You’re welcome, Ma’am,” she replied with a nod.
“Evelyn.”
Dani blinked and paused before she pulled out of the lane so that she could look at her new passenger squarely. “Excuse me?”
“My name is Evelyn. Ma’am is so formal.” Evelyn waved in the air. “Now, what’s yours?”
Surprise rendered her speechless for a moment until a car drove by, its headlights washing over them. In the brief moment of light, Evelyn looked pale and wrinkled with age, but her eyes were bright with cheer and mischief. “It’s Dani, Ma’a—Evelyn.” She rarely gave out her name, especially given how much grief and harassment a bus driver got on the job, but there was something about Evelyn.
“That’s a wonderful name.” Evelyn tapped her cane against the metal flooring of the bus for emphasis.
“Thank...you.” Dani turned back and pulled the bus out from the stop, at a loss with how best to respond.
“You’re welcome.”
Silence returned as they drove on. The number of passengers dwindled with each stop until only Evelyn remained. Dani wondered why the old lady was riding the bus so late. But asking would be rude. She only hoped that Evelyn wasn’t some lost senior like those that appeared on missing person reports.
“It’s a beautiful night, isn’t it? Calm.” Evelyn’s voice was wistful even as it disrupted Dani’s inner monologue.
“Yeah, it is,” Dani mumbled as she made another turn. It was true, though. The weather had remained clear all day without a cloud in sight, and the lack of wind made sure it stayed that way through the night.
“You see each of these homes we drive by?”
She wasn’t paying attention to the houses considering she was keeping her eyes on the road, but she made an affirmative noise, anyway. Some passengers liked to talk, looking for companionship. Dani didn’t mind.
“Every house has a family, whether it’s a family of one or ten. And each of them have their own stories, their own joys and grief.”
It was a deeper topic than Dani had been prepared for and she let out a shaky laugh. “Family of ten?”
Evelyn tapped her cane against one of the poles and made a tsking sound. “Lots of cultures have generations living together, you know. The old looks after the young. It takes a village.”
Dani wondered why there was a hint of sadness in her tone but didn’t feel comfortable enough to ask. They passed another stop. She drove on without stopping since no one was waiting there and Evelyn hadn’t asked to be let off yet.
“Now, as I was saying, each of them has stories. Have you ever wondered about them?”
“Not really.” But those two words alone didn’t seem adequate enough as an answer, and after another pause, Dani spoke again. “I hear a lot of stories on the job. Sometimes, it’s over conversations people have with each other, sometimes over a phone call.”
“And sometimes from talking to people like myself,” Evelyn added.
A slight smile graced Dani’s lips. Evelyn may be quirky, but she was sharp. “That too.”
“So, what’s your story, Dani? Did anyone ever ask you?”
The question caught her off guard and she didn’t answer at first. She took another turn instead and realized with a start that she was nearing the end of the line.
“No one has asked me before.” Dani pulled into the last stop and opened the doors before she turned to survey her bus. True enough, Evelyn was the only passenger left as no others had gotten on.
“So?”
Evelyn showed no signs of getting off and Dani wondered for a moment if she was lost. “This is the last stop.” She tried to keep her tone gentle.
“Right.” Evelyn rose from her seat and moved with grace despite the cane. “But you haven’t answered my question.” There was no sting in her words. Rather, mischief danced in her eyes.
Dani laughed and rubbed the back of her head. “I’m just your average gal. No story.”
With a raised brow and a smirk, Evelyn shook her head. Dani didn’t even know little old ladies could make that kind of expression.
“Nonsense.” Evelyn wagged a finger at her. “Everyone has a story. I expect you to tell me yours tomorrow.”
Before Dani could protest, Evelyn stepped off the bus, more spry than anyone her age had the right to be. With a small chuckle under her breath, Dani closed the doors and drove off to her last destination of the night.
By the time she finished the paperwork and dragged herself home, the continuous exhaustion had taken its toll. She managed to strip and hang up her uniform before she threw herself face first into her bed. Within seconds, Dani was out like a light.
“You look exhausted, my dear.”
Dani’s eyes widened as, like yesterday, Evelyn stood at the open doors of her bus. 11:00 pm. Stop 11586. For some unfathomable reason, it also lifted her heart to see her.
Or maybe what coursed through her was relief that Evelyn wasn’t a lost, wandering soul like she had half-feared last night.
“Long day. I was running late getting to my shift and didn’t get my caffeine.” Dani replied as she lowered the bus. The incessant beeping did little to lower her spirits. And when Evelyn stepped in with the same thousand-watt smile, Dani couldn’t help but beam herself. “Good evening, Evelyn.”
“Another beautiful night. You should see the stars.” Evelyn settled in the same seat as before.
“I’ll keep an eye out for them when I get off my shift,” Dani murmured. She glimpsed Evelyn straightening her heavy jacket. It was a chilly night, colder than the last.
“Do you want me to turn up the heat for you?” she asked.
“Hey, don’t you fucking dare.”
Dani glanced at the rearview mirror and frowned. That’s right. The man had stumbled on a few stops back and slumped into a seat a few rows behind before pulling his wide-brimmed hat over his face. She remembered the scent of alcohol permeating from him and had hoped that he wouldn’t be any trouble. No such luck.
“Sir.” Best not to pull out of the stop yet. The last thing she needed was a belligerent passenger harassing her or Evelyn while she was driving. For now, she acknowledged the man with a neutral tone, and kept the doors open, as she’d been trained to do.
“Sir is right, you bitch.” He lurched out of his seat and ambled toward the old lady.
“Sir, I cannot move the bus with you standing.” Dani’s hand twitched towards the radio button but reaching for it now would be obvious. She had to deescalate the situation, even if protocol directed that she stay in her seat. But what about…?
“Indulging yourself too much does not give you an excuse for being rude, boy. Sit your bottom down.” Evelyn rose from her seat and stood in the middle of the aisle, wagging one finger at the dude while holding her cane with her other hand.