by Tommy Dakar
‘What time leaves the bus?’
asked Herr Grübe, with a showman’s grin on his face. Groan.
‘I know, why don’t we try and guess where we’re going on this mystery tour, maybe put a quid on it and the winner takes all?’
It was one of the schoolgirls, a bright-faced little thing squashed between a number of her mates on a bench-like seat near the entrance.
‘Or when leaves the bus!’
insisted Herr Grübe, but this time only Mr. Fumiko got the joke
‘ Canterbury!’
exclaimed Mr. Jenkins.
‘Oxford.’
‘Southend!’
‘Milton Keynes!’
Milton turned round as he heard his name, and for a second there was an awkward silence. Miss Sally to the rescue.
‘It‘s a nice idea, though I’m not so sure about the betting part. Surely winning is enough. We should ‘all put our names and destination on a piece of paper, and when we arrive we’ll look through them all and those that have...
She nearly said ‘acertained the truth’ but pulled back in time.
‘...got it right, well, are the winners.’
‘An ice-cream for the winner!’
called a child‘s voice.
‘All right?’
Miss Sally resumed her role.
‘All those who think it’s a good idea, put up their hands.’
The response was timid. Milton and Sunday didn’t feel like taking part in case those ridiculous Americans decided to, and for the very same reason June nudged Jeff before he could raise his arm. The young couple were far too shy to make a public declaration of anything other than their new-found love, and the two suited men who had at first been mistaken for the driver and his mate seemed to be oblivious to everything. Miss Sally tried to encourage them to join in by nodding her head at them, but they just looked the other way.
‘Anybody else? ........ No? ........ Oh well, let’s forget it then.’
She felt slightly embarrassed having offered herself and been rejected, but the kids were on her side and still keen to play, so she set about organising a mini competition.
Inés and her friends were the first to quit. Everybody was sorry to see them go, especially Anke and Brigite who would now have to seek refuge in their Mum again. It was the beginning of the end, they all knew that. It would just be a matter of time now before they all started to find excuses for giving it up as a bad job. The young lovers slipped off next without a word to anyone, quickly followed by Milton and Sunday, much to June’s relief. She wouldn’t be long in following suit.
The bus was virtually empty now. The Grübes and the Fumikos had taken their leave of Mrs. Hammond and Mr. Jenkins, Anke and Brigite had said goodbye to the kids, leaving Miss Sally busy folding little pieces of paper. The rain had stopped.
‘Have we got to go too, Miss?’
She was about to say that she was afraid so, when an old man’s voice whispered
‘Mr. Jenkins. Canterbury. Chocolate and vanilla.’