Reality Shift

A chance meeting or fate?

“You feel that? It’s starting to rain. I’m Bob. You’re Julie. I overheard you talking on your cell. Bad day, huh?”

“No comment, Bob. Let’s just wait here for the bus hoping we don’t get soaked before it comes any minute now.”

“Want to share my umbrella? It’s big enough. Room for two.”

“Okay.”

“You drop off at the 12th street exit every weekday. You must work at one of the many fast food places.”

“Two of them actually. Manager at Del Taco. Assistant manager at McDonalds. Here’s the bus. Thanks for the shared umbrella.”

“I own both of those places. Just bought the Del Taco franchise one. Thought I’d check it out without telling anyone I was coming.”

“I never heard anything about a change in management, Bob. I’d prefer you hang out somewhere else until I can verify you’re real. Security reasons. Maybe nobody’s told you about the flake harassing us lately over the phone about being what you claim to be?”

“Sure. No problemo, Julie. Good job. You’re already showing I’ve got the right supervisor in place. I’ll get off here and check out the fast food competition. Check with you later at Del Taco.”

“Hey, mister bus driver? Do you know that guy who just got off? It’s a little strange a wealthy owner type would be riding a bus.”

“Old Bob Perkins? Yeah. He’s a little weird that way. Spooked you, huh?”

“Yeah. It was like he’s been stalking me, he knows so much about me. I’ve never noticed him before now.”

“Yeah, I was listening in. You can expect not just a promotion, but my job in top management with him. I just retired, got bored. That’s why I’m driving this bus.”