Andrea sits at the window. Lacey takes the seat beside her.
Andrea: Hey there!
Lacey: What’s new?
Andrea: I got a new job! At a dungeon. I’m going to take out all my wildest fantasies on, like, a bunch of strangers.
Lacey:Take out?
Andrea: Well, you know. Anger issues and all that. But things have, like, never been better with the love life. Darkie doesn’t talk much, and you know how I love to hold a conversation, but it doesn’t, like, seem all that bad. He’s a good listener.
Lacey: Uh huh. Well, congrat–
Andrea: And you know Eddie’s left town. Good riddance. I was, like, so over him anyways. So now it’s just me and my Darkness.
Lacey: I’m happy for you.
Andrea: Thanks! So what’s going on with you?
Lacey: Oh, you know. I–
Andrea: I so do. Isn’t life great? Just, like, really great?
Sandi sits at the window. Candice takes the seat beside her.
Sandi: Hey there!
Candice: Hi!
Sandi: I heard about your big news! Congratulations!
Candice: Yep. Getting married, going back to school. It’s like I’m growing up.
Sandi: I won’t be with Madame very much longer either.
Candice: Oh no?
Sandi: (smiles) Jeff and I are having a baby.
Candice: Oh my God! (hugs her) That’s wonderful!
Sandi: Yeah. Can’t exactly whip guys when I’ve got a baby bulge. And anyway, Jeff’s looking for a job out of province, so we’ll be moving soon. I hope.
Candice: Is the church going to take him back?
Sandi: I think so.
Candice: I hope you’re not leaving too soon. I was hoping you’d be my maid of honour.
Sandi: I’d love that! Who’s Justin’s best man going to be?
Candice:(shrugs) A friend of his from Calgary. Jimmy. Haven’t met him yet.
Sandi: I wonder what Madame’s going to do without us.
Candice: She’s been interviewing people. I think she’s going to go with someone named Andrea. Apparently, she’s got more energy than the two of us put together.
Thursday, August 16th, 9:00pm
Bella (and Alice) (and Edward)
Bella sits at the window looking worried. Alice takes the seat beside her.
Alice: What’s up?
Bella: The cops went over to pick up Lily.
Alice: ‘Bout time.
Bella: But there wasn’t a house there.
Alice: What do you mean there wasn’t a house there? You had the address written down and everything.
Bella: I know. Apparently, that’s why they didn’t pick her up in the first place. It was a vacant lot. Just a hole in the ground.
Alice: So what, you wrote the address down wrong when Edward let you go?
Bella: No. I went over there myself. The house was there just like I remembered. So I called the cops and went to a coffee shop to wait. When I went back again it was just like they said. A vacant lot.
Alice: That’s spooky.
Bella: And worst of all? Edward escaped.
Alice: Holy shit.
Bella: I know.
Alice: So what are we going to do?
Bella: I don’t want to run away …
Alice: … but there might not be any choice.
Edward:(pops up from the seat behind, making them both jump) It’s okay. I’m going to leave you alone.
Alice: You’re doing a good job already.
Bella: Stay away from me.
Edward: That’s what I just said. I’m going away. For real this time.
Bella: Promise?
Edward: Yes. But I promise you this too. I’ll see you again. When you least expect it.
Bella: That’s reassuring. How about never?
Edward: That’s not possible, Bella. We’re meant to be together. (smiles, showing fake fangs) Good bye for now, my love.
Edward sits at the back of the bus until it stops. He gets off.
Alice: What’ll you do when he comes back?
Bella:(opens purse to reveal a wooden stake, bulbs of garlic, and a cross) I got it covered.
Tuesday, August 7th, 5:00 7:00pm
Maurice (and Stuart)
Maurice sits at the window. Stuart takes the seat beside him.
Maurice: Hey, buddy! Long time no see!
Stuart: Yep. Been out of town for a while. Lost my apartment after I lost my job.
Maurice: Oh no! How did that happen?
Stuart: Damned cat.
Maurice: The cat made you lose your job and your apartment?
Stuart: Yep. It got this really weird skin rash. I spent a week looking after it because the old lady I lived with was allergic to the cream it needed rubbed on its skin.
Maurice: So you lost your job ’cause you took a week off?
Stuart: Yep.
Maurice: And I guess then you couldn’t afford the apartment.
Stuart: Oh, no. I could still afford it. But the old lady discovered that breed of cats that don’t have hair and decided the original cat got its skin disease because it was lonely. Twenty-six of the little buggers later, there was no room left for me.
Maurice: How is the old lady affording the place by herself?
Stuart: She taught the cats a bunch of tricks. She’s got a circus going in the living room. Charges a bundle to let people watch.
Maurice: Sounds like living with that old lady’s always been a bit of a circus.
lindaghill.com 