Last Thursday
Every Thursday I wake up and wonder why I stayed out so late the night before. This Thursday I did not yearn for death when I awoke; I was fresh as a daisy. After all, I had destroyed my Latin Final the day before. I did the undergraduate portion of the exam in 30 minutes, and then asked if I could do the grad portion for extra credit. I finished that before any of the grad students did. So I had a right to feel pretty good.
So I put on my best clothes, strapped on my bass and walked out into the sun to catch the 31. I waved to it as it approached and stuck my ear buds in once I got on. However, I had not even listened to a full song when I realized that the bus had taken an unexpected turn. For I was not on the 31 but the 31A and its next stop was 4 miles from my destination.
"Excuse me, but can I get off at the next light," said the Williams' child, most politely.
"The next stop is at Sutter and Bush, 4 miles from your destination," said the bus driver.
So, I had to walk over and get the Geary Bus. I was greeted by two older black men. "Hey, he's got a cello!"
"No man, it's a bass!"
"Oh yeah, like Bootsy Collins!"
So we had fun there in the back of the bus talking about music and the girls who we passed on the bus until I asked where they were on their way so early in the morning.
"Oh, I'm going to Fort Miley, where I have class."
"Really? What kind of class?"
"Oh, it's an anger management class."
So it turns out that not only are they in anger management class, but a twelve-step program for alcoholism.
"Man, the thing I like about being sober is that I can read. I didn't care to read when I was drunk. I would just throw the book away."
"So what step are you on?"
"I'm not even on the first step! As soon as I do my ninety days, then I'll get to step one. It's the sixth step that everyone gets stuck on."
"I don't know."
"Well, let me see your book."
But even after reading the book, I couldn't figure out what that sixth step is.
"Boy," said the guy in front of me, "don't sit behind me. I just got out of prison for murder and I don't like people sitting behind me. HA! I got you! Aw, man, you went as white as a sheet!"
"Ah yeah, you got me. This is my stop."
So I put on my best clothes, strapped on my bass and walked out into the sun to catch the 31. I waved to it as it approached and stuck my ear buds in once I got on. However, I had not even listened to a full song when I realized that the bus had taken an unexpected turn. For I was not on the 31 but the 31A and its next stop was 4 miles from my destination.
"Excuse me, but can I get off at the next light," said the Williams' child, most politely.
"The next stop is at Sutter and Bush, 4 miles from your destination," said the bus driver.
So, I had to walk over and get the Geary Bus. I was greeted by two older black men. "Hey, he's got a cello!"
"No man, it's a bass!"
"Oh yeah, like Bootsy Collins!"
So we had fun there in the back of the bus talking about music and the girls who we passed on the bus until I asked where they were on their way so early in the morning.
"Oh, I'm going to Fort Miley, where I have class."
"Really? What kind of class?"
"Oh, it's an anger management class."
So it turns out that not only are they in anger management class, but a twelve-step program for alcoholism.
"Man, the thing I like about being sober is that I can read. I didn't care to read when I was drunk. I would just throw the book away."
"So what step are you on?"
"I'm not even on the first step! As soon as I do my ninety days, then I'll get to step one. It's the sixth step that everyone gets stuck on."
"I don't know."
"Well, let me see your book."
But even after reading the book, I couldn't figure out what that sixth step is.
"Boy," said the guy in front of me, "don't sit behind me. I just got out of prison for murder and I don't like people sitting behind me. HA! I got you! Aw, man, you went as white as a sheet!"
"Ah yeah, you got me. This is my stop."