The Bus Journey

A story was told during the shiva, which I have adapted so slightly.

You can catch a bus that takes you all the way through Jerusalem – from Gilo in the South to Pisgat Ze’ev in the north. The whole trip takes around half an hour when the roads are clear and the passenger is charged a flat-rate fee – it’s the same price whether he travels 3 stops or 20.

Early one morning a young man gets on the bus at Gilo. The bus is empty and, being the kind of person who enjoys company, he’s feeling a little lonely. However, after a few stops a young lady gets on and sits down a few seats away. She’s lovely so he stands up, walks over to her, introduces himself and sits down. 

They chat and in no time at all are really ‘hitting it off’. Everything is so perfect – they have so much in common. She laughs at his jokes – he loves the way she thinks and talks... he’s met the girl of his dreams! 

But, suddenly, she rings the bell and asks her fellow passenger to let her through. “What are you doing?” the man asks in disbelief? “Where are you going?” he blurts out. “This is my stop” the girl answers. The man is shocked. “But why are you getting off now? Your ticket is good for another 15 stops – till we get to the terminus in Pisgat Ze’ev!” “You don’t understand,” replied the girl. “This is my stop. This is where I get off”. And with those words, she was gone.

This was Barb’s stop. This is where she had to get off.

And so ended the story. But I’d like to add my own postscript.

You see, this man knew that the stop where the girl had alighted was not her final destination. Sometime later – maybe the same day, maybe in a couple of days or even weeks, she would make the journey back home... and he would wait for her, even though she might tarry. 

Yes, he would wait for the love of his life.