People jostled for every miniscule space, clambering for their right to ride the next bus, I mean he thought it’s not like there’s not gonna be one along again in a few minutes. He wondered what was so dreadfully important that their travel time was so precious that they needed to save every second. He waited patiently until he was on his own. He was in no hurry; in fact he was not really going anywhere, it had just been a whim to venture out. It had been so long ago since he had, but suddenly he’d felt compelled to do so.
He loved his life in The Emporium. He never wanted for anything as all was provided, magically of course. All he had to do was have the slightest thought about something and it was instantly available. He would never tire of that, but sometimes, just sometimes he longed for a little normality. To buy a cake, to sit in a park with a coffee or ride a bus just for the fun of it.
It was late when the last night-time one arrived. He fumbled in his pocket, naturally it was full of change and he also knew his wallet would contain notes of every persuasion should he chance upon an extravagant purchase opportunity.
“One & six,” the conductress told him, fumbling with the ticket machine suspended around her neck by a thick black leather strap. She was a plump woman, with a beautiful smile which her peaked cap hid until she looked straight in his direction. Turning the handle he watched as the ticket was printed, wondering how she knew where he was going.
“Last bus tonight,” she stated. An air raid siren wailed in the distance. “Be lucky if we make it though.” She sighed. “Might have to ditch this old thing and find ourselves a nice cosy underground station.” She winked at him and rang the bell.
The streets were all but deserted and as the black-out kicked in there were no lights, not even on the front of the bus. Thrumps wondered how the driver knew where to go.
“Don’t you worry my lovely,” the clippie chirped up as if reading his thoughts. “Driver’s done this too many a time to get us lost.” She laughed but rather than quelling any misgivings it was kind of hollow and ineffective. She clung to the back pole peering out into the blackness as a hand-cranked claxton rattled the windows. The bus lunged to a halt.
“Com-on,” she said grabbing his sleeve. “Time to go.”
He couldn’t move, something was pinning him to his seat. “Go.” He shouted to her. “I’ll take my chance here.” She shrugged but didn’t argue, there wasn’t time if she was to make it before the shelter doors were closed and locked.
Thrumps sat in the empty bus, the whole street was deserted and it felt for all the world as if nothing existed or had ever done so. He was suddenly acutely aware of the silence. Not only was there no more air-raid alarms but there was also no drones of approaching planes and thankfully no bombs screaming their way to annihilation and destruction.
All was still, too still.
Cautiously he stood on the running platform and looked straight into the bright lights of a vibrant and bustling city. The bus seemed out of place. It was in the wrong time zone, the wrong era, the wrong … or was it?
“You made it,” said the chirpy voice of a time-and-motion inspector as he eagerly scribbled on his clip-board. Thrumps said nothing as the young man thrust an envelope into his hand.
“You’ll need this,” was all he said before indicating for him to go back inside the bus. Without question he retook his seat and waited.
“Wakey-wakey my lovely,” the chippy said giving him a little shake. “Time to go.”
The black-out had passed, if it was ever there in the first place that is. The bus was at the stop outside The Emporium.
“Don’t loose the letter,” she said flashing that winning smile in his direction as he stepped off, but before he could utter a word, she rang the bell and the bus disappeared.