Old Friends

Old Friends

Waiting for the bus. I don’t mind not having a car, and even not having the ability to rush off on errands anytime, but waiting for the bus stinks. It’s basically the bus company our town uses. I should know, I’ve lived here all my life.

Someone sat down at the other end of the bench, I glanced over, some guy. I looked back at my book to avoid conversation. Most guys have cars. Most women in this town also have cars, actually, which is probably why our busses stink.

“Excuse me…” came a voice from the man, “I think I know you…”

I read plenty, that came across as a ‘line.’ “I doubt it,” I said, then went back to my book.

“Don’t you recognize me?” he said next, “I think we went to school together… you’re Janet?”

Well, yes. I had to look again, it was starting to get real.

“What’s your name?” I asked. I’m not that good at aged faces, but I know who I went to school with.

“David… David Abbott.”

Oh gosh! Yes! I had a crush on him for years! The only guy with redder and more naturally curly hair than me! Now bald, no wonder I didn’t recognize him.

“Yes! David Abbott. I didn’t know you were still around!”

“Just moved back. Retired, decided to move into the old family home since I still own it. You’re Susan aren’t you…”

“Simmons, Susan Simmons, formerly Susan Andrews, my husband passed four years ago.”

“I’m so sorry, my wife passed seven years ago…”

“Oh, I’m sorry too. How are you doing? What have you been up to since nineteen sixty-six when we graduated from high school?”

He laughed, then started talking. We both missed the bus, but we found a wonderful new, old friend.