didn’t remember a whole lot about the beating, except that he’d gone berserk and started kicking and punching when the Amish fellow had refused to hand over his wallet. Once Alex had started his tirade, he’d been oblivious to everything around him and unable to stop himself. After he’d finally come to his senses, he’d taken the unconscious man’s wallet, clothes, bus ticket, and pocket watch, then left him on the cold bathroom floor. After that, he’d rushed out the door, not knowing, or even caring, how badly the man might have been hurt.
If Alex was a decent sort, he would have gone back to make sure the guy wasn’t dead. But Alex hadn’t been decent for a good many years. Maybe he never had been. Maybe he’d always been full of hate. After the beating, all Alex had cared about was saving his own hide and getting out of there as fast as he could. Now if only this bus would get moving and put more miles between him and Philly, Alex would feel a whole lot better about things. What if the Amish guy had come to and told the police about the mugging? The police could be looking for him right now. Would they know he was on his way to Indiana, dressed in the Amish man’s clothes, and using his bus ticket? Alex had never been to Indiana before, but he was anxious to get there, especially now.
Alex frowned and covered his ears. Awhile ago, some kid at the back of the bus had gotten the brainy idea to do a sing-along. Most everyone had joined in, even the adults. It was bad enough when they started singing “Oh! Susanna” and “The Wheels on the Bus” with all that swish-swishing, beep-beeping, and clink-clinking. Now it was even worse. They were singing “The Ants Go Marching.” Alex thought he would go crazy if he heard one more rendition of that stupid song. It seemed to go on forever.
When that song was finally over, the kid who’d started the sing-along noticed that Alex was the only one not participating, so he got some other stupid song started about being a party pooper, and on and on it went.
Sure can’t wait to get off this bus
, Alex thought, twisting his body toward the window and away from the sounds of that unwanted chorus.
If I had some duct tape, I’d go back there and slap it over that kid’s big mouth!
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nurse Susan Bailey had just gotten off the phone with her sister, Anne, as they finalized their plans for the evening. Anne worked at the same hospital as Susan, but Anne was a physical therapist in the rehab center, while Susan worked in the critical care unit.
Susan’s morning had been busy, making rounds and tending patients. She finally found the time to take a break at eleven and couldn’t believe how fast the morning had gone. She’d started her twelve-hour shift at 4:00 a.m. and had missed her early morning break, so the hunger pangs she felt now told her it was definitely past time to eat.
As Susan headed down the hall to the hospital cafeteria, she figured there wouldn’t be too many people there yet, and hopefully it would be quiet. During her thirty-minute break, she planned to start a grocery list. Last night before bed, Grandma Bailey had given her a small list of things she needed from the store, as well, so all Susan had to do was add what she wanted to her grandmother’s list and stop by the store on the way home. Buying groceries was just a small way of showing appreciation for all that Grandma and Grandpa had done for Susan and her sister over the years.
When Susan opened her small cooler, she frowned.
Sure wish I’d thought to pack more than yogurt and celery sticks this morning. I’ll just have to make due until I meet Anne for supper this evening, because I don’t want to buy a big lunch here and ruin my appetite for tonight.
Even though Susan and her sister lived with their grandparents in Darby, just outside Philadelphia, their jobs kept them so busy they didn’t see each other that much. Since they both had tonight off
If Alex was a decent sort, he would have gone back to make sure the guy wasn’t dead. But Alex hadn’t been decent for a good many years. Maybe he never had been. Maybe he’d always been full of hate. After the beating, all Alex had cared about was saving his own hide and getting out of there as fast as he could. Now if only this bus would get moving and put more miles between him and Philly, Alex would feel a whole lot better about things. What if the Amish guy had come to and told the police about the mugging? The police could be looking for him right now. Would they know he was on his way to Indiana, dressed in the Amish man’s clothes, and using his bus ticket? Alex had never been to Indiana before, but he was anxious to get there, especially now.
Alex frowned and covered his ears. Awhile ago, some kid at the back of the bus had gotten the brainy idea to do a sing-along. Most everyone had joined in, even the adults. It was bad enough when they started singing “Oh! Susanna” and “The Wheels on the Bus” with all that swish-swishing, beep-beeping, and clink-clinking. Now it was even worse. They were singing “The Ants Go Marching.” Alex thought he would go crazy if he heard one more rendition of that stupid song. It seemed to go on forever.
When that song was finally over, the kid who’d started the sing-along noticed that Alex was the only one not participating, so he got some other stupid song started about being a party pooper, and on and on it went.
Sure can’t wait to get off this bus
, Alex thought, twisting his body toward the window and away from the sounds of that unwanted chorus.
If I had some duct tape, I’d go back there and slap it over that kid’s big mouth!
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nurse Susan Bailey had just gotten off the phone with her sister, Anne, as they finalized their plans for the evening. Anne worked at the same hospital as Susan, but Anne was a physical therapist in the rehab center, while Susan worked in the critical care unit.
Susan’s morning had been busy, making rounds and tending patients. She finally found the time to take a break at eleven and couldn’t believe how fast the morning had gone. She’d started her twelve-hour shift at 4:00 a.m. and had missed her early morning break, so the hunger pangs she felt now told her it was definitely past time to eat.
As Susan headed down the hall to the hospital cafeteria, she figured there wouldn’t be too many people there yet, and hopefully it would be quiet. During her thirty-minute break, she planned to start a grocery list. Last night before bed, Grandma Bailey had given her a small list of things she needed from the store, as well, so all Susan had to do was add what she wanted to her grandmother’s list and stop by the store on the way home. Buying groceries was just a small way of showing appreciation for all that Grandma and Grandpa had done for Susan and her sister over the years.
When Susan opened her small cooler, she frowned.
Sure wish I’d thought to pack more than yogurt and celery sticks this morning. I’ll just have to make due until I meet Anne for supper this evening, because I don’t want to buy a big lunch here and ruin my appetite for tonight.
Even though Susan and her sister lived with their grandparents in Darby, just outside Philadelphia, their jobs kept them so busy they didn’t see each other that much. Since they both had tonight off
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