Gloomy, cold, snow, storm, wind.....those are the words that we use to describe the weather for Colorado. Especially this year, after people have been through several snow storms, bus has been the safest transportation that most residents would make use of.
This is the number 15 bus runs on Colfax. Since Colfax is the longest boulevard in Colorado, it goes through all the way to East Chamber from Central downtown. Plus this is the busiest bus runs in town, 15 is crowded at most of the time.
It has poor condition for driving; number 15 becomes my first choice.
5 o’clock in the afternoon, it already looks dark outside of the bus. It’s another frozen snowing day, 15 is packed extremely. The distance between all the passengers also decreases incapably because the little space inside of the bus. All the seats are taken and even the space between left and right sides of the seats is filled with passengers. Heater and the crowd has brought up the high temperature, only when operator opens the door, cold air seeps inside of the bus, it’s the only time you can feel the different between outside and inside.
A little boy is sitting in the corner, concentrating on the book that he has in hands, slender fingers push the frame of his glasses sometimes, childish smile appears on his face at times he is reading. Comparing with him, crowd and noise are felt out of his element.
A 30 years old man is sitting beside him, black colored suit looks clean and tidy, a travel case is sitting beside his legs, along with his phone, he has been talking since the moment he got into the bus. He has checked several times of his watch, then he switched his cell phone to another side and kind stretched his arm within the little space.
Front of the suit man, there is a brown colored hair lady holding a baby inside her arm. Her make up is kind of rustic for her age, big golden ear rings are hanging down. Her baby is sleeping in her arm quietly. She is patting her baby slowly with the golden rings on hands. She looks outside of the window sometimes and then turns back look her baby.
A 50-year old lady has caught my attention. She is sitting at the front behind the driver seat; head is forwarded and trying to see the road. Grey and messy short hair has almost covered half of her face. Red eyes are looking at everyone with an unreadable light. Her face is full of wrinkles, skin is dry and dark. Some part of her old fashion black leather coat is worn, snow is melted on the top of her two shoulders, the color of her jeans has already been washed off, her shoes still have some snow on them, the bottom of her jeans are already wet. She is holding her hand with another, once a while, she kind of put the messy hair behind her ears once with the rough skin on her hands.
“This is Colorado blvd.....”with operator’s voice from the microphone, the door is followed to open. This station can be connected to several other different lines, plus it is rush hour, passengers look like more than what the bus can fit.
Driver pulls down the stage for handicapped then gets out toward the door. He bends down then pulling something up. Everyone is curious to see what’s going on. A 30 years old man gets into the bus, a baby is staying in his arm, the baby carriage is beside him. Look inside of the carriage, an old-style TV has taken all the space inside of it. All the passengers who were standing near by the door have to move back to save the room for the carriage and other passengers. An apologetic expression has appeared on his face, he moves to the side of the bus near by the window, trying to save as much space he can to save the room. Baby starts crying without control, the man is using one arm to hold the baby, another one holds the carriage. A small blanket covers most part of the baby; it’s kind of dirty on the part which is hanging down from the man’s hand. Beside him, there is the “messy hair” lady, casting her head aside from the man with her sharp light.
5 minutes later, “messy hair” starts to talking with a husky and disdain voice.
“I don’t understand it, why he lets a T-V- sitting in there? If he put the baby in there, I understand it, but.....”With her hands waving in the air, she finished with her first sentences. Unlike what she thought, there is no response from other passengers after she brought the topic up.
After the second time she pulls her hair, she starts to continue. “I’m a Native American, and a devout Christian, you know? It’s evil!”
Passengers look at her, someone shake their head, and someone didn’t pay lots attention and continue on what they were doing.
Since the “messy hair” started to talking, the man puts his head down, didn’t speak a word. His eyes look grey and the apologetic expression is getting deeper. Baby is still crying under the blanket, like the protest for his father.
“It’s not right!....” she continues.
“It’s their transportation, what do you wanna they do?” A young lady who is sitting near by the “messy hair” starts to cut “messy hair” voice off. “Besides that, bus is a public transportation, everyone can ride it, not only you!” After the young lady’s last word, “messy hair” turns her head to another side.
“This is Quebec, connection can be made to....” bus is slowing down, door is open for unloading passengers. At the moment when the man getting out from the bus, he nods his head to the young lady who just spoke for him. “Thank you!” low and deep.
“Take care.” The young lady nods her head back.
Operator opens the handicapped stage, the man, the baby, and his carriage disappear in the cold dark dusk.
Cold air seeps inside of the bus, no one knows how long they have to keep staying in the cold night......
Click here to visit RTD website for #15 schedule.
Click here to view more information for Colfax Avenue.
