Rue the Woe

The crows cawed on the telephone lines overhead. Justin looked up at them as he leaned against his Chevy. The crows fluttered a bit and settled down. Justin could hear their subtle cooing in the silence of the harvested fall farmland. The fields were clear and he could see for miles in every direction. It was easy enough to see Sally’s bus approaching. The bus stop was just in front of Jerry’s Honk and Drive Diner. They had a decent breakfast plate but not much else.

Justin flicked his cigarette onto the dusty road and walked toward the bus stop. He wanted to be right at the door as Sally got off. Sally had spent the last four months in rehab and he was excited to see her. He had already started to forgive her for the small fire she set and the damages to his mother’s house.

The bus slowed and the breaks squealed as the Greyhound came to a halt. Justin cleared his throat and smiled. He should have brought some flowers but he didn’t think of it until now. He was too nervous.  The bus doors opened and there was a pause. No one seemed to be getting off. Justin looked up at the bus driver pleadingly but he didn’t move.

A walker appeared at the top of the stairs and a well bundled old woman looked down at Justin.

“Help an old woman off the bus would you”, she asked Justin.

He reached up and helped the woman step down onto the dry country road. She only had a small bag with her and Justin took it from her as formality dictated. Justin was raised to be polite and he just couldn’t help himself. People around town figured it was why he wound up with Sally in the first place. He was just too nice and couldn’t be hurt by Sally’s constant insults and derision. Sally seemed to have that prettiest girl in town chip on her shoulder and she tossed it around like a medieval Morningstar.

Justin made sure the old woman was steady on her feet and looked back up toward the bus stairs for Sally.  

“She’s not going to be there I’m afraid”, said the old woman.

“Pardon me”, said Justin.

“Sally. She won’t be getting off this bus. Or any bus for that matter”.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Let’s get out of this cold and I’ll tell you all I know”, and the old woman started to walk towards Jerry’s Honk and Drive Diner.

The bus doors closed and with a roar of the engine started to pull away. Justin started to pound on the door, asking after Sally, pleading with the bus driver to stop and let Sally off the bus. He ignored Justin and stepped on the gas. The bus pulled off and left Justin standing in the road covered in dust.

Justin could feel grit in his eyes and it stung, but not worse than the pain he felt in his chest. He didn’t move to wipe his eyes. He just stood there in the road watching the bus drive out of sight.

He turned around when her heard a bell ring and saw the old woman making her way into the door of Jerry’s Honk and Drive Diner. Justin kicked the dirt and started walking toward Jerry’s. He heard the crows overhead again, cawing, almost cackling at his broken heart.