A Touch of Spring

Spring is definitely in the air!

A certain woman boards the bus from time to time.  She is probably in her 50's, of Greek or Chilean appearance with dark hair cut into a bob and framing even, chubby features.  Her figure is short, and dumpy and she always wears dark colours.
Her glasses are thickly rimmed in black and she peers accusingly at me with large dark eyes, if I happen to be sitting on the front seat.

This morning, she beat me to it; bustling to board the bus before me and guarding the front seat with her handbag while she eagerly fed her ticket to the machine.

Her effusive greeting of the driver made it all only too clear as to why she was so determined in her haste to secure her position. 
The driver was her personal destination!

I've seen him often on our route.
Possibly Indonesian, he always has a ready smile and is most gentlemanly in his treatment of everyone.  Almost bowing in his readiness to greet us as we board, inquiring as to our health and waving passionately as we leave; wishing us 'a good day'!

I returned the smile of welcome from the driver and sat a little behind the woman and to one side so that I could see her.  I was curious as to her motives on this particular ride and they soon became obvious!

She hitched herself up into the coveted front seat and sat down heavily, bustling to tuck her coat beneath her and propping her handbag on her lap.
She then hitched her skirt up a little, displaying chubby knees and gazed rapturously at the driver in his mirror.
He smiled back at her, noting only, I think, that it was safe to move off and that she wouldn't topple into the aisle.

There then followed a sort of 'one sided courtship', whereby she continued to gaze in adoration and he politely acknowledged her attentions as people shuffled sleepily, on and off the bus.

She fidgeted in her seat a little and fluttered her magnified lashes at him behind her heavy rimmed glasses and he instantly took an increased interest in the busy road ahead.

This display continued for the length of her journey into the city. She occasionally stretched out a leg and uttered a little cough, then fluttered the lashes again and drew the leg back to join its mirror image and all the time ensuring there was a little extra flesh on show than was absolutely necessary.
By now, our driver had ceased to smile and was studiously staring at the traffic ahead and trying hard not to catch her eye in the mirror!
By the time we reached Elizabeth street and her destination, he was positively shrinking in his seat!

She slid as gracefully as possible from the raised seat, paused beside him as she made to get off and pressed something into his hand.  He bobbed his head and uttered his usual 'have a nice day' with a smile fixed to his round face.
I'm certain the doors closed behind her a little too smartly!

As we pulled away, I saw him glance at the small piece of paper in his hand. A single line that looked like a telephone number stared hopefully back at him.  A look of horror flitted, unchecked, across his face!
He sighed heavily and shook his head slowly as the bus staggered back into the chaos of city traffic and once more became part of the constant ebb and flow of commuters.

Somewhere in the city, there is a small, dark haired woman whose step is lighter and more hopeful!
Somewhere in the city is a certain bus driver who had a narrow escape!!