Life in progress

Category Archives: fiction


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141. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Strong language

Friday, January 19th, 22:00
Willhelm (and Kyra)

 

Willhelm sits at the window. Kyra takes the seat beside him.

Willhelm: Hi.

Kyra: Hello.

Willhelm: Do you have ze time?

Kyra: (pulls cell phone out of her pocket) It’s ten.

Willhelm: Twenty-two hundred hours. And counting.

Kyra: Counting to what?

Willhelm: Zee end of ze world, of course.

Kyra: And what time’s this supposed to happen?

Willhelm: At 22:22, unless I stop it.

Kyra: So, wait. So, you’re taking a city bus to get to where ever you need to go to save the world from destruction?

Willhelm: (nods) Ja.

Kyra: (sits forward, agitated) Is the bus going to, like, fuckin’ make it there on time?

Willhelm: (nods) Ja.

Kyra: (huffs) Well thank Christ for that.

 

Next stop: Saturday, January 20th, 11:58pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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140. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Strong language

Thursday, January 18th, 4:00pm
Brandon and Jordan

 

Brandon: Why you so down today?

Jordan: What do you think?

Brandon waits quietly.

Jordan: Marissa broke up with me.

Brandon: No way!

Jordan nods and bites his nails.

Brandon: Did she say why?

Jordan shakes his head slightly but says nothing.

Brandon: Is it the sex thing?

Jordan nods.

Brandon: She doesn’t deserve you, man.

Jordan: I dunno.

Brandon: No, seriously. Stick to your guns. If sex is all she wants, she’s not worth it.

Jordan: I broke my fuckin’ ankle for her.

Brandon: Exactly.

 

Next stop: Friday, January 19th, 22:00

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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139. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Wednesday, January 17th, 5:55pm
Marchare (and Don Kee)

 

Marchare sits at the window, hands on the seat in front. Don Kee takes the seat beside him.

Marchare: What’s wrong with this bus?

Don Kee: (in a droning voice) I don’t see a problem.

Marchare: (checks pocket watch) I’m late!

Don Kee: Aren’t we all.

Marchare: I’m late!!

Don Kee: It’s five minutes to six.

Marchare: But I have a very important date – at six!

Don Kee: The bus isn’t scheduled to stop until six.

Marchare: I should get off. And run!

Don Kee: That won’t do you any good.

Marchare: Why not?

Don Kee: Nothing ever does.

Marchare: (checks watch) No time!

Marchare leaps over Don Kee and stands at the door, bouncing.

Don Kee: (to himself) Some people. Just can’t seem to keep their tails on.

 

Next stop: Thursday, January 18th, 4:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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138. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Tuesday, January 16th, 9:00pm
Dillon (and Zoey)

 

Dillon sits at the window. Zoey takes the seat beside him.

Zoey: Hey. Aren’t you a bit young to be on the bus alone at this time at night?

Dillon: (stares at her for a moment) My mom’s sick. She went to the hospital.

Zoey: Oh no.

Dillon: So I have to go home to my step-dad. He’s drunk.

Zoey: Are you going to be okay?

Dillon shrugs.

Zoey: Is there a friend you could stay with instead?

Dillon: Yeah. But he lives the other way.

Zoey: Do you know his number? (pulls cell phone from pocket) I could call him.

Dillon: I’ll be okay.

Zoey: Well, can I give you some money to take another bus?

Dillon: (hesitates) Sh … sure.

Zoey: (hands him $3 in coins) Are you sure you’ll be okay?

Dillon: (shrugs) Yeah. Thanks.

Zoey: My stop’s coming up. Do you want to come with me to talk to the bus driver? He can make sure you get where you want to go.

Dillon: Sure.

They get up together.

 

Next stop: Wednesday, January 17th, 5:55pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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137. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Monday, January 15th, 5:00pm
Kevin (and Phil)

 

Kevin is seated in the aisle seat. Phil approaches.

Phil: Mind if I sit here?

Kevin: Not at all. (moves to the window seat)

Phil: (sits) Ugh. I hate the bus.

Kevin: Why you on it then?

Phil: My car broke down. Again.

Kevin: Oh yeah? I used to own a car.

Phil: Why’d you give it up?

Kevin: Ah, it was a Mercedes.

Phil stares at him, waiting for him to go on.

Kevin: Yeah, it was repossessed. Actually, a bunch of drug dealers took it. They thought I was someone else. Who owed them, y’know?

Phil: So … did you call the cops?

Kevin: Nah. I had enough money to buy another one.

Phil: That’s not the point.

Kevin: (snorts) You ever been in trouble with the mob?

Phil: No. I work in an office.

Kevin: Then you wouldn’t understand. They’d come after me? I’da been dead. Then what good would a Mercedes have done me?

Phil: True.

Kevin: So I just left town. Came here. (looks behind him) I don’t think they’re following me anymore.

Phil stares at him for a moment then moves to another seat.

 

Next stop: Tuesday, January 16th, 9:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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136. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Adult theme

Sunday, January 14th, 7:00pm
Villem (and Hillary, and Drommen)

 

Villem sits at the window. Hillary takes the seat beside him, nodding to Drommen, who is already sitting behind Villem.

Villem: Hi again.

Hillary: You remember me?

Villem: You laughed at me. Course I do.

Hillary: Does that mean you’re going to behave your sorry ass this time?

Villem: (leers and opens his coat) No, it just means it’s bigger and harder this time.

Drommen: (leans forward, mouth to Villem’s ear) I have a cure for that. (holds up a pair of dressmaker’s shears)

Villem yips in surprise and climbs over Hillary to get to the door.

Drommen: And don’t come back!

Hillary shifts over and Drommen sits beside her.

Hillary: Where did you get the idea for the scissors?

Drommen: Little trick I learned from a knitter.

 

Next stop: Monday, January 15th, 5:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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135. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Saturday, January 13th, 8:00pm
Drommen (and Andrea)

 

Drommen sits at the window. Andrea takes the seat beside him.

Drommen: Good evening.

Andrea: Hey, I know you. We, like, sat together before. How you been doing?

Drommen: Not bad thanks, and you?

Andrea: (sighs) I’m so in love.

Drommen: Good for you!

Andrea: Not really. I, like, met him at New Year’s? And I haven’t seen him since. I was hoping I’d find him on the bus. That’s where I met him the first time. You meet some, like, really interesting people on the bus.

Drommen: That’s true.

Andrea: Anyways, I don’t suppose you’ve seen him? He’s pretty tall, skinny, and, like, drop-dead gorgeous, and he has really sharp fangs.

Drommen: Were you drunk on New Year’s Eve by any chance?

Andrea: Seriously? How’d you know?

 

Next stop: Sunday, January 14th, 7:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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134. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Friday, January 12th, 8:00pm
Gargoyle #1 and Gargoyle #2

 

Gargoyle #1: Hey, do you want to get stoned?

Gargoyle #2: I already am.

 

Next stop: Saturday, January 13th, 8:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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133. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Strong language

Thursday, January 11th, 6:00pm
Brandon and Jordan

 

Brandon: Did Marissa accept your proposal?

Jordan: She wants to wait. See whether or not I get the scholarship. Obviously I didn’t tell her I already got it.

Brandon: Told ya.

Jordan: I don’t know what to fuckin’ do. On one hand I have this opportunity, and on the other …

Brandon: Wouldn’t she go with you?

Jordan: She wants to go to school up here.

Brandon: You could have a long distance relationship.

Jordan: That’s what I said. She still wants to wait.

Brandon: Sorry man.

Jordan: She also wants …

Brandon: What?

Jordan: To sleep together.

Brandon: Right on.

Jordan: But I said no.

Brandon: (stares) You said what? Are you crazy?

Jordan: No. I want to wait until we’re married.

Brandon: (after a moment of stunned silence) Might be a deal breaker man.

Jordan: Yeah, well. Too bad.

Brandon: (snorts) Good luck.

 

Next stop: Friday, January 12th, 6:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.


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132. Scenes from the Second Seat on the Right

Note: Strong language

Wednesday, January 10th, 8:00pm
Justin and Mr. Splindle

 

Mr Splindle: So what’s the damage?

Justin: I beg your pardon?

Mr. Splindle: How much did you get out of the old lady last night?

Justin: A couple thou.

Mr. Splindle: That’s my boy! You’re gonna go far.

Justin: I’m not so sure about this deal …

Mr. Splindle: No! You’ve done good! All you need is a little confidence in yourself. Tell you what. We’ll head out to the peeler bars tonight, get you good and happy, and then tomorrow you can start off fresh. What do you say?

Justin stares quietly.

Mr. Splindle: There’s a lot of money in it for you, son.

Justin: But … It’s dishonest.

Mr. Splindle: (regarding him with a frown) Think of it this way. What you did last night was no more dishonest than what that woman is doing to our poor government. She’s no more disabled than you or I.

Justin: But she did seem a little …

Mr. Splindle: A little what? Gimpy? All an act! (laughs) You’ve got to learn when someone’s having you on, my boy. But I’ll teach you. Yes, my son, you’ve got a lot to learn.

Justin: Mr. Splindle?

Mr. Splindle: Yes lad?

Justin: I’m not your son.

Mr. Splindle: (chuckles) It’s an affectation, my boy. Besides, at the rate you’re going it’s only a matter of time before we’re just like family. Don’t you think? Now let’s go get ourselves some ass!

 

Next stop: Thursday, January 11th, 6:00pm

Click here to learn all about this series, how it works, and where to find your favourite characters.