I can't say it has a title, really. (Archived)

It started Effigy would have thought with him getting a job, not his first but his last. He had had enough of job interviews, playing creep to some snob. So no, this was it. Now Effigy enjoyed walking, he had been sponsored to walk for a charity before, but walking two miles to work he could not do. He was getting older and he wanted luxury in his old age. A pension for Gods sake. Besides he hated the job. Wouldn’t walk there for love nor money. So it was the bus for him and it was there, a windy day in January, he met Quartz, who didn’t go anywhere. He stayed curled up on the back seat of the bus, let the bus do the moving for him. Effigy could not think of anything worse.
Quartz appeared to love the buses. Looking out of the windows and seeing everything he wouldn’t normally if he were walking. Quartz could claim to be able to sleep on the bumpy, juddering bus.
You did get all kinds on a bus Effigy saw, mainly the lazy who couldn’t afford a car or the fuel.
Or like him, the people who kept failing the test. Effigy asked Quartz if he was getting on the right bus because all these 50’s and 500’s were confusing and he couldn’t seem to get on the right one.
Powerless to stop the bus, as it did a U turn instead of a right. Effigy counted his blessings he hadn't been sacked yet for his lateness. There were narrow times when he was signing in for work just as the boss was getting out of his Ford Mondeo.
‘I’m not sure’, Quartz answered.
Oh God Effigy thought, he was talking to a loony.
‘I mean’ Quartz explained ‘I don’t ge toff’
‘You don’t?’ Effigy was mildly interested int his.
‘No need’
‘Hideously expensive, aren’t they?’
‘I suppose. Gotta keep the country going though’
‘Yes. Does the bus come at ten?’
‘I don’t live by time’
Effigy was to find that Quartz at a bus stop was rare, especially at this hour.
That first time Effigy sat at the front of the bus and he didn’t think anymore of it. Holding onto the rattling rail, his rings clinking.
He wondered - was that blood on the window beside him?
Observed the two old men, looked like they were masterplanning a take over the world plan. They might do a better job than the muppets at the moment.
Thought - this was the one of the few vehicles where a seat belt was not necessary.
And he heard a voice - a girl - Rush. She was singing, listening to her Ipod and, not that he was looking, he did see Quartz with another at the back of the bus.
Audacity - who didn’t care if he was talking to wood or chalk or the odd man Quartz, anybody would do. He had things to be said. Someone must listen. Effigy vowed not to get involved with them.