An Attempt

The bus was late. John stood at the bus stop, shaking his head and grunting as he grew more impatient. When it finally came, he stomped his way onto the bus. "Try to stay on schedule tomorrow, would ya?" he scoffed at the driver. He made his way to the last bucket seat available, tossed his briefcase on the seat, and sat down right next to it. He laid his head back and closed his eyes.

After a few minutes, the bus still hadn't pulled away. What's taking so long, John thought. He looked out the window and saw an elderly woman approaching the bus, slowly. Like John, the people sitting in front of and next to John began to tap their feet and sigh aloud. "Hurry up," a girl yelled out. "Although you may think we do, we don't have all day!"

Walking with her cane, the woman climbed onto the bus and walked down the aisle, stepping over passengers' feet, searching for a place to sit. As she approached John, John moved his briefcase further down the seat and looked out the window.

"Jerk," she said under her breath.

"Excuse me?"

"Are you hard of hearing? I called you a jerk."

"Maybe you should walk faster next time, Grandma. I was here first," John retaliated.

"Maybe you should watch what you say to me because I will..."

"You'll what?" John asked. "You'll hit me with your cane? No, you can stand. You'll be okay."