The help on the bus ride home

Dennis feels scared. He holds onto his sister’s hand a little tighter. He has to keep her safe. Even if he feels scared, he mustn’t show it. He doesn’t want Abby to sense his fear. Their grandmother stands beside them as they wait for the bus. It is late evening, and well past dark.

They haven’t been waiting long, however Dennis hopes the bus will arrive soon.They live on Mable Street, actually their grandmother does. Dennis and Abby are staying with her while their parents are out of the country. It hasn’t been too bad, really, because both Dennis and Abby love their Grandma, and always enjoy their time with her.

Furthermore, it was summer break and they had no school to worry about. This meant they could also help their grandma with her daily errands and such. Or just be lazy, and chase lightning bugs in the hot and muggy evening after dark.

The Help on the bus ride home

This particular evening they were all coming back from the grocery. Their grandma’s home was several miles away. And their grandma did not own a vehicle. Therefore she rode the bus everywhere. Dennis was feeling scared because of Mr. Oleary’s observations.

That was how Mr. Oleary put it, he wasn’t predicting, or complaining, he was making observations. Then he would cackle a little bit, and continue telling Dennis another story. Dennis would listen to Mr.Oleary closely. Indeed sometimes he hung on every word. The old man was nothing, if not crazy interesting.

The bus finally arrives and Dennis is enormously relieved. After last night’s ride with Mr. Oleary and his crazy stories Dennis wasn’t sure if he would ever feel safe in the dark again. He holds on to Abbys hand as she follows her grandmother onto the bus. Dennis brings up the rear. Checking behind him more than once, until the bus doors are finally closed.

His grandmother and Abby take a seat near the front of the mostly empty bus. Dennis heads to the rear of the bus to sit next to Mr. Oleary, who is tamping a cigarette from a mostly empty pack. He looks up at Dennis and grins a nearly toothless grin. His voice is gruff and somewhat cheerful as he welcomes Dennis to his seat.

Mr. Oleary

“It’s the last night young man.” Mr. Oleary gives Dennis that strange searching gaze again. Almost as though he knows Dennis. That is one reason Dennis likes to listen to the old man’s ideas. They are earnest and the man himself is genuine. Dennis is a kid and he knew this from the start.

He had told Abby, but she was his sister, and thought most things he did were strange and made no sense. Therefore Dennis is surprised by his statement. And asks almost immediately what was wrong. Mr. Oleary wastes no time in responding,

“Nothing wrong dear boy, everything is as peachy keen as can be. My route is changing, is all. I’ll be on another circuit. So to speak.” He looks baleful for a brief moment, then cackles a bit as he lights the mangled cigarette. “What we got to do is try and take care of you.” He looks at Dennis again, in that long way, and now Dennis feels a chill run up his spine.

“You must remember they watch, always. They never get tired and they never sleep. When the time comes you must be ready, because only you will see. Remember Dennis, they never sleep.” He goes silent and smiles once more as he takes a big drag on the cigarette. Ten minutes later Dennis is stepping off the bus, with his sister and grandmother.

The bus ride

He is still trying to make sense of what Mr. Oleary told him. The words are making little sense. Furthermore, he can feel his sister staring at him as they walk the half block to their grandma’s house. He feels annoyed at the obvious attempt to get on his nerves and he asks, not politely,

“What?”

Abby blinks and then looks at Dennis somberly before replying,

“We are worried about you Dennis. You always sit in the back of the bus, away from us and anyone else. You sit there alone and mutter to yourself Dennis. What is happening? Why are you acting so strangely, Dennis?”

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The bus ride home

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