Alone, at the Bottom of the World (part 25)

Thank God for the Good

My fellow passengers and I drove away from Flaxton, North Dakota, through acre upon acre of pure gold. Behind us, a sweet white haired lady stood waving her handkerchief as the bus drifted slowly away. I gazed at the envelope which represented Providence, and kindliess, and affection. Up ahead, there were 1,000 miles between me and the sister who was more than ready for that bus to deliver this eager, but weary, blond. 

                                                                                                       http://www.flickr.com/photos/64443083@N00/5010520723/

This time the bus seemed to be crammed with retirees who wanted to see Yellowstone National Park. All the chatter focussed on the buffalo. The geysers! The Moose! 

All eyes were peeled and practically glued to the windows of the Greyhound. The loudest voice on the bus ("Harvey? Have you ever seen a moose, Harvey? Harvey?!" But Harvey maintained a stony silence) kept up a running commentary concerning the dangerousness of moose and buffalo. And how to avoid being injured. And how many times people had been gruesomely killed 'right here in this Park, Harvey.'

But as we drove through, the lady became less and less sure of herself as it became apparent that we were not seeing ANY ANIMALS AT ALL. She eventually became as quiet as her husband. For which the rest of us were truly thankful.

After eating our breakfast in the Lodge, we were given a few moments to wander about. Then were ushered aboard once more, like so many quacking geese. How exciting this leg of the journey felt to me now! My sister and her husband would meet me in Boise, and I could scarcely bear to wait.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/minusbaby/4418034606/

It was dark when I pulled in. And walked down the aisle. Practically skipped down the steps. Oh please let them be in the crowd. And - there they were! The utter safety of Family, standing on the curb in the warmth of that Idaho evening. I'm not sure how long the hugging went on, but nobody could stop, or wanted to stop. And the laughter. And the questions. There's nothing quite like two school teachers for good questions!

We gathered up my bag, with all the detritus of a long bus journey, and off I was whisked to the nearest Denny's. We ordered waffles with ice cream (a real delicacy in New Zealand!), talking long and hard. Finally we got to the part about the Evil Creep bus driver, whereupon my sister and her husband were HORRIFIED. I had been simply glad to get away from the man safely, but they launched an absolutely correct questioning mode: 'Who did you TELL about it?' 'What happened when you got inside the next bus station?' 'WHAT!? You DIDN'T tell anyone about it?'

Their desire for my safety touched on a huge point - that this driver would in future have other young women in his bus. Waiting for them to become the lone traveler. Probably certain that I (and perhaps strings of others) would NOT report him. And this is tragedy.

Life thus far has been filled with all sorts of opposites. A sweet lady welcoming a stranger, buying her a new dress and giving her much needed cash. And the opposite - a trusted man strangely corrupt, proposing to steal something in violence that did not belong to him. Having no concern apart from his own loathsome compulsions.

Does anyone still not believe in Good and Evil? 

I, for one, do.

the SconeLady

photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/64443083@N00/5010520723/">jinxmcc</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">cc</a>


photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/minusbaby/4418034606/">minusbaby</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc</a>