Tottenham Tryst
"Night bus driver Patricia has seen every kind of passenger on the N279, but when regular rider James finally introduces himself properly, she discovers some journeys are meant to last forever."
Midnight. The N279 from Tottenham. James always sat near the front.
"Safe journey," Patricia would say.
"Safer with you driving," he'd reply.
Six months of this. Six months of wondering what if.
Tonight, she asked: "Why yuh always take mi bus?"
"Because of you."
The depot was empty at 4 AM. James waiting, two coffees in hand.
"Yuh didn't have to—"
"I wanted to." He offered her the cup. "Six months is long enough to be strangers."
"Who said we strangers?"
"We know nothing about each other."
"Yuh know I drive safe. I know yuh polite. That's more than most marriages."
Coffee led to breakfast. Breakfast led to exchanged numbers. Numbers led to everything.
"This against the rules," she said.
"I stopped riding the bus. We just two people now."
"Two people who met on a bus."
"Best bus ride of my life."
"Yes! James! Right there!"
Her flat near the depot, her thick body finally in his arms instead of behind a steering wheel.
"Don't stop! Yuh the best passenger I ever had!"
James takes the N279 again. But only to ride to the depot, to walk Patricia home.
"Yuh crazy," she says.
"Crazy about yuh."
Night bus romance.
Tottenham tryst.
Journey complete.
But the ride continues.
Forever.