A LONDON BUS DRIVERS STORY - not really about photo personals, but to be honest its a classic bit of fiction - or is it real???

It started last Easter…….my contact with two unknown passengers.

I drive a double decker bus, yes, the big red one’s from a central London station to the southern suburbs. A journey that usually takes an hour. Sometimes it’s a thankless task but over the last 8 months it’s been a joyJ . Why ? Let me explain……………….

The day before Good Friday is usually very busy, it’s the first holiday of the year and people leave for home earlier than usual.

This makes for poor traffic conditions and the bus is full to capacity……."standing room only – no standing on top" is my usual cry as I attempt to limit the throngs of people trying to get home. The last person to make it on the bus is an unassuming smartly dressed young lady. "Sorry-full up!!-mind the doors please" is my next cry with all the authority I can muster. The young lady shows her bus pass and says thank you with a smile of genuine gratitude on her face. She’s not strikingly beautiful but an English rose in her own right. The journey continues. (she was probably thinking of that adult personals site on the web shed seen the night before!!!).

The traffic is building up, the masses are on the move.

" Anybody want the next stop " I cry" No answer.

" Speak up – ‘cos I’m not stopping" No answer.

Have you noticed how quiet a bus is when it is full. Flash the headlights before I pass the next stop, let the people know I’m full. Some shake their fists as I drive slowly by others cast doubts on the validity of my parents marriage. The young lady gives an embarrassed smile and shrugs her shoulders. We drive on past the next stop. The bell rings and I slowly come to a halt at the bus stop. Only one person waiting here. Six get off through the rear doors ( I count them in my wing mirror )

"Move inside the bus" I plead.

A little shuffle is carried out still no space. Ah what the hell and open the front doors. The young man gets on, pays his fare and we’re off. Traffic is still heavy and moving very slow. Looks like we are going to be late. The young man is standing beside the young lady I can see them in my interior mirrors. The road is a bit bumpy here. Recent road works have left it slightly uneven. We hit the first pothole and people hold on tight. I saw them grab for the same hand rail at the same time in the same place. I swear I saw the electricity pass between them! They both moved theirs hands away in an embarrassed fumble, they must have felt it - the electricity – the hairs on my forearms were standing on end and I had only glimpsed the contact in my rear view mirror.

As the journey progresses the bus becomes emptier, people getting off for the holidays with their family. She has found a seat. He is still standing. He only has eyes for her, there are vacant seats on the bus but he prefers to be near.

She can sense his gaze but pretends not to notice, looking out of the window blushing but sneaking a peek at her admirer when she thinks he is not looking. Their eyes meet and quickly avert with a look of embarrassed guilt on their young faces. The journey is nearing its end, he has found a seat where he can keep visual contact but has made no move to speak. The fool I think to myself ,there IS an afinity. (still has nothing really to do with photo personals!)

She rises as we approach her stop, he still doesn’t make a move and she gets off the bus. Is all lost ? is there hope.? He is the last passenger on the bus as we approach the terminus. He rises to get off, " She likes you. " I inform him. He looks embarrassed and stutters " I like her " and gets off the bus. We are running late, get the bus turned around for the return journey.Let’s hope the traffic isn’t as bad.

Tuesday soon comes. Holidays are never long enough. She is at the bus stop, only person standing there. As she gets on the bus looking for her bus pass I say to her " He wants to meet you " She smiles and asks who. The guy who was making eyes at you last week I inform her.She smiles and sits down.

There he is again, he climbs aboard and sits opposite her. The attraction is obvious – from both.

The traffic is quiet, usually is after a holiday. As we approach her stop she comes up to the drivers cab and passes me a piece of paper, "Give him this " she whispers. It was a page from her filofax and written on it was her e.mail address, no phone number, no address. What if he isn’t on the net!

The terminus is looming up ahead, he rises – "You forgot something " I call to him and hold out the piece of paper. He comes up to the cab, gives me a quizzical look, but takes the paper nonetheless. Hope he’s on the net.

Wednesday soon comes, she’s not at the stop! He bounds on the bus, eyes darting around looking for her. She is not there. He looks at me beseechingly, all I can do is shrug.

Thursday, she’s there, he’ll be happy, he boards and his eyes light up. He sits close but, still no contact during the journey.

Friday, there she is and him ! They board the bus and sit together engaging in light conversation throughout the journey. She beams me a smile as she alights and skips lightly from the bus.

Further on at the journey’s end he yell’s out " Thank’s mate " and leaps off. I feel good.

The months have passed and the relationship must have grown, they travel together and get off at each others stop – presumably for a date.

Christmas is fast approaching, they are both on the bus, and the conversation looks a little heated. " No, you. " is all I can make out. They both approach me at the terminus looking quite embarrassed. " We want you to come…….no!……give me away. "

They explained, her father was dead and would I do the honours at their wedding in June.

They wanted me to give the bride away and wouldn’t take no for an answer. How could I refuse. I am deeply honoured.

There is no need to travel alone anywhere in the world - so Get on this bus.

Invite me to the wedding. I like a good ending.....don't you ?