Everyone moved to the right side of the bus.
"Sit by the window Frank, and look straight ahead. Don't talk, make faces, or react at all. This will be over soon, we aren't far from the reception center", Leslie said.
Frank didn't argue and moved to the window seat. Leslie peered down the aisle-way to make sure it was clear.
"Charon, we're ready!"
Next to Charon's seat was a long brass lever. He reached down and pulled it a full 45 degrees until it was fully vertical. Immediately, a pleasant tone sounded and then two sparkling gold beams descended from the ceiling of the bus. The beam cut off the driver's seat and the side of the bus where the passengers were sitting.
Leslie spoke up, “Don’t touch the beam Frank. It will cause pain like a white hot burn. It won't actually damage you, but it will put you out of commission for a long time. Remember what I said, keep your eyes straight ahead and don't stare at anyone."
Charon set the air brakes and pulled the door lever. The door slid back and a tall man in a tight black suit entered and stood by the farebox. His muscular form showed through the tight shabby suit. He had long dark hair that was slick back and put in a ponytail. He was very handsome, but had a slimy air about him.
"Good afternoon Charon,How are you today?", the man said trying to sound cheerful.
"I`m the same as I was yesterday Taariq. Let`s get on with it. How many souls total today?"
The man sighed like he was deeply hurt. "I`m sorry I keep thinking things can be amicable between us...I thought since we worked together we could be civil...I have six souls today."
Charon looked up at the man. He squinted his eyes, then paused for a few seconds as if to temper his answer. he finally responded in the way he had developed over years of being a bus driver in Newark. "Listen Buddy, this is as…F----ing polite as you deserve (forgive me Lord.). You savor the pain of others like I enjoy a cold beer on a hot day. Let me fully develop the concept of the level of politeness that you are deserving of from me in story form. You like stories right? Let’s say I went to my favorite diner in Newark, the one down by 33rd street, and I ordered a big piece of peach pie ala mode with a cup of strong coffee from the moody waitress slash aspiring actress. Said waitress brings me a cold cup of weak decaf coffee and a slice of dried up peach pie without any ice cream, I would still be more polite to her than I am to you. Let’s say I made a stink and demanded my ice cream and hot coffee, so she took it back to the kitchen and instead brought me the pie with a big scoop of steaming dog crap on the pie instead of the Brier’s Vanilla Bean ice cream with the same cup of cold coffee but this time she dropped a couple of ice cubes in it, even then, I would still be more polite to her than I am to you. As I left the building, if the dog that had produced said crap came up to me on the street and peed on my shoe and then bit me on the leg, even then I would be more polite to that dog then I would be to you. Finally, (hopefully this makes it crystal clear), if that same scoop of dog crap that had been on the plate of pie was put into a flaming paper bag and put on my doorstep, I would still be more polite to that piece of flaming dog crap than I would ever be to you…I trust this had made the matter clear enough for such a towering intellect such as yourself. You act like you are some touchy feely sensitive sort. We all know you are a pathetic messenger boy who enjoys hunting lost souls down like rats and then hurting them and tormenting them for his own pleasure! You aren’t offended I don’t want to be your forever friend; you’re just in love with your delusions of grandeur and think everyone should kiss your butt. I ain’t stopping you from treating the lost souls the way you are allowed to, but on this bus, it’s my rules. Are we clear? “
The tall man stared at Charon for a few seconds and then nodded slowly.
“Bring your people on the bus. We’re running behind while you and I are flapping our gums about our feelings like a couple of little girls. “
“Very well...”
