Fucking Bus Stop

Written: 2009
© Julie Ruffell 2009
Description: An angry teenager who doesn't want to deal with the world waits at a bus stop, and is pulled into a confrontation with an abusive father.

"Fucking Bus Stop"

Terri deplored waiting for the bus; especially today. The rain poured down in buckets and the wind had destroyed her umbrella on the way here. She was soaked through and freezing...and the middle aged woman next to her wouldn't stop talking.

"Why do you kids put all that metal in your faces?"

"I'm not a kid," Terri muttered under her breath through clenched teeth. She was twenty-two for crying out loud.

"I had Lindsey's ears pierced when she was one. But just one hole in each ear. One lovely earring dangling from each ear can make a woman look exquisite. But punching steal rods through your chin and eyebrows? It makes you look like some tribal African."

Annoying and racist. Gre-e-e-e-e-at, thought Terri. She wished she hadn't forgotten her iPod. A little blaring Evanescence would really save her about now.

"Are you listening to me?"

Terri rolled her eyes. Ignoring the woman wasn't helping. "No, I was conversing with the Prince of Darkness."

"I beg your pardon?"

"These facial piercings are part of a Wiccan ritual to accept the devil into myself. And when he enters me, he will lay waste to the world." Terri turned to the woman with evil eyes and licked her teeth. "Your flesh will be the first consumed."

The woman quickly got up and left. Frigging finally! Terri applauded her performance. Man, she hated people. Couldn't they all just leave her the hell alone?

Where's the fucking bus?

Terri looked at her watch. 2:59. The bus was scheduled to arrive at 3:17. Fuck!

She closed her eyes and lifted her face to the rain. It pelted her with violent force, but Terri was so wet that she didn't care anymore. At least with her head tilted up it wasn't running off her nose.

She became aware of crying. Oh great. What now?

Her eyes cracked open and she looked about without moving her head. The last thing she wanted was another old person talking to her again.

She found the crying child with her eyes. She was six or seven years old. She wore a bright yellow raincoat and her face was mostly hidden behind dark brown bangs which stuck to her forehead. Her father was jerking violently on her arm. "Walk faster! We can't be late!"

Terri dropped her head and completely opened her eyes. She looked around. Wasn't anyone going to do anything?

"Stop your damn crying and hurry the hell up!" He pulled on the young girl's arm again.

He-e-e-e-e-llo-o-o-o-o-o. Someone fucking do something. There were plenty of people the father's age. Why weren't they stopping him?

"If you keep crying, I'll give you a reason to cry!"

Fuck you, asshole! I fucking hate when parents say shit like that.

The child was starting to choke from crying so hard. The father stopped, turned around and slapped the girl hard in the face. Hitting the wet skin made the slap resonate like a thunderclap. Terri winced. Still no one moved.

Fuck this shit.

Terri ran over. As the father prepared to strike the child again, Terri shoved him. He stumbled, but didn't fall. Terri stood between him and his daughter.

"Fuck you, bitch!"

"No, fuck you, asshole!" Terri yelled back.

His eyes were wild. Terri knew those eyes and she was scared. But she didn't move.

"Go away. She's my kid."

"I don't care. I'm not letting you hit her again." Terri pulled out her cell phone. "I'm going to call the police and you're going to fuck off."

She thought he would hit her then, but he made no move to do so. "Harriet, let's go."

"No, George."

Terri started. She took a quick glance behind her to see the annoying woman from before. She was cradling the crying child. Guess that's Lindsey. Poor kid. These are some fucked up parents.

"You need to leave," Terri told George.

George eyed her, looking her over, weighing his options. Still, Terri didn't flinch.

"Fuck!" He turned and stormed into the rain.

Terri felt her body trembling as the adrenaline forced itself out of her body. She had expected him to attack. Fucking pussy. Her legs were locked. She wasn't sure she'd be able to move.

"Thank you."

Harriet's voice snapped Terri's body back and she turned around. She looked Lindsey in the eye, and willed her thoughts to reach the girl.

Don't let them destroy you.

Terri saw her bus pulling up. She started to jog towards it without a word in reply to Harriet, and she didn't look back.

She boarded the bus and walked to the back, sitting in the last seat, setting her head against the window.

FIN