Board Thread:Writer's Workshop/@comment-29447668-20160805000618

The noise down front jolted me from my uneasy slumber. My neck ached as I sat up and looked around the 93 morning bus. My worst fears were confirmed - the bus had stopped, and I would be late to work. The boss had told me I would be put on corrective action if I was late one more time. Corrective action meant being written up, and from there, being fired. Being fired meant a resume gap, which meant I could not get another job. My rent would not be paid, and I would be evited, joining the other homeless people on the street to face the pity and contempt of the respectable populace - those who earned their right to live in society.

The Bible said those who do not work shall not eat.

My hands began to shake and the silver bracelets on my arm jingled. My throat tightened and I began to choke with terror. I could not breathe. Then I began to hyperventilate.

The Bible said those who do not work shall not eat.

The cause of the trouble was down front. Two stupid kids had boarded the bus without paying and the driver had called them back to pay the fare.

''Please, dear God, let them pay the fare so we can be on our way. I don't want to be fired. ''

The Bible said those who do not work shall not eat.

Of course, the troublemakers would choose to argue and curse, not even bothering to speak proper English. Instead, they were either speaking in tongues - which nobody did outside church - or they were speaking Ebonics. Great.

"I don' gotta pay no goddam fare for no goddam ride, muthfucka," said one.

"Sir, you have to pay the fare. It's $1.75," said the poor driver, who surely had had enough of these guys already.

The other young man was on his phone, yelling something about his baby momma's car. He also paid no attention to the driver's please to pay the fare.

The Bible said those who do not work shall not eat.

The bus was still stalled. I looked at my watch. If I resolved the matter, I could still get to work on time and maybe even go to the bathroom before work, if God looked upon me favorably. I was the only one who was paying any attention to the trouble down front. Every last one of my fellow passengers was playing with their phone, reading the newspaper, or fast asleep. It was up to me.

The Bible said those who do not work shall not eat.

I stood up and went down front. My appearance, gender, and age meant the young men would not see me as a threat. My purse was neatly slung across my body. My right hand was in my purse, as if I were fishing for change to pay the fare for the young men.

The Bible said those who do not work shall not eat.

I crept up behing the worst offedner, the one who was polluting the air with his foul languague. With one swift motion, I raised my right arm, stabbing him in the neck with my nail scissors. My aim was true. The young man had cursed his last curse. His body fell lifeless on the floor of the bus. There was hardly any blood on the floor of the bus. Luckily, no blood hit my shoes.

I smiled, rejoicing in the peace and quiet. Then I remembered the other young man. He looked at me, said "oh shit" and jumped off the bus.

I smiled again, for that meant I didn't have to use my nail file in his eye.

"OK, sir, we can go now. I took care of the problem," I told the driver.

Why did the driver start screaming? We were all set to go and be ont ime for work. 