I pulled a small can from the shelf and told her, “Hey, this baby corn has like, 10mg of sodium per serving.” She shook her head in disapproval because she didn’t  have enough money to cover it. Her dad only gave her $10 for grocery shopping. I got up and dusted myself. Wandering off onto the next shelf of goodies, I decided to keep looking at the corn when all of a sudden I heard this shocking sound! “Oh yes! Oh god yes! Oh my gosh I finally! Oh my gosh I can’t believe it! Yes,” shouted the woman. Amused, I shushed Pepper in the middle of her rant about corn and listened in even more the insanity. “Ahahahahaahah! YES! YES!”, shouted the lady! Did someone propose to her? I don’t think getting proposed to in Safeway is very romantic. But I guess it could work somehow.

“Honey, what do you think of macaroni and cheese for tonight?” asked the man. His eyes viciously stared into the mac’ n’ cheese’ picture on the box. The dinosaur’s grin, piercing his very mind and soul. Controlling him, driving his determination and heart.  The lady frown and told him, “There’s too much sodium in it, and I thought you liked my mac’ n’ cheese better.” Ba-dump, ba-dump, ba-dump, went his heart. Instantly, he was filled with love and wild passion for her! “Yeah…but there’s something I love even more,” spoken by the man. Slowly, step by step, the love drew him closer and closer to her. “If it’s chips, you can forget it,” warned the women, but she wasn’t warned for what was about to take place. “Nikki, will you take my hand in marriage as your lawfully wedded husband?” proposed the man. Tofu, salad greens, and organic watermelons fell to the floor. “Yes! YES! Oh god yes! My god yes! Yes! YES! YES YES YES!” screamed Nikki in total glee! The speakers blared Frank Sinatra’s My One and Only Love over the loudspeaker and the lights darkened all around. Shoppers aww’d over the couple’s new engagement, and sealed it with a kiss. “Oh John, I love you!” screamed Nikki! John just squeezed her and held her tight with all his might and she was merrily whisked away to the car. Another happy couple, off to marriage land. Happy Wedding Planning!

Still not romantic enough for me.

The sun was setting and phones were buzzing. We were cruising down the street, each to his or her own agenda. Riders would board and depart the bus at each stop as if the bus wasn’t filled with people already. Engines revving to accelerate on the adjacent lane, we found ourselves with a ticking time bomb. Passengers moved back and forth through the aisle, crossing the man back and forth.

Every once in a while, someone would accidentally step on his foot. Frustrated, he would swear and shout. The man exclaims pain and hatred towards those who caused him such pain. Attempting to restore peace, the driver requests the man cease his dirty mouthing and settle down. Apologies are given and the man returns to his seat. He quietly sings alone to himself, grinning ear-to-ear as he listens to the cassette tape play.

The bus rolls along the blacktop and I stare out the window. Lights go red, and the bus ceases motion again at the traffic light. “Ding,” goes the sign it lights up with a pinkish tint. Walking down the aisle, a different man steps on the foot, adding to the boiling frustration.

The man scolds the newcomer to the battle and demands an apology, but he remains silent. Seconds feeling like minutes pass, and the supposed offender turns and apologizes for stepping on his foot. This wasn’t but without a remark though. Brave, he  makes it clear that we were tired of his whining and bull crap. But this only further irritated the steaming man. Past his limit, he starts shouting and raising his arms with intent to beat. Tired of the shouting, the driver boots the man off the bus. Screaming and yelling, he curses and lashes at black people with names and insults. Merely scoffing and gesturing the man to depart the bus, the man storms off the bus in a rage and continues on the sidewalk.

We cheer and rejoice in his departure! Smiles and grins fill the bus, pushing the dark ambiance out of the room.  The traffic light turns to green and the bus moves only to crawl over to the stop on the other side of the street. Merriment and laughter are cut short as yet again, we meet the crazy man. He repeats his offense, but we speed off after dropping off passengers and we finally leave him.

We leave, with me hoping what will become of him. I get off at my stop and head home for the day with thoughts of that strange man lingering in my head. Was he a senile old fool? How’d he break his foot? Has he gone to anger management? Soon after, I forget and carry on with my life.