Part 1: The Morning Mission Into The City

My usual day, A short story..
Part 1: The Morning Mission Into The City

Every work morning is the same thing.. My alarm goes off at 7am.. I hit snooze.. again at 7:10, followed by 7:20.. On some mornings I'll get up at 7:20.. others I snooze it to 7:30 or 7:40..

I climb out of bed, and walk like a zombie to the bathroom for a shower.. On the way, if I happen to see mum or dad, I'll grunt a "hi!"..
With them usually replying, my dad with a typical father type "Good Afternoon" if I've slept in..

I get into the shower, freshen up, and when I leave it.. I'm a whole other person, I'm awake.. It's like the shower washed all the zombie out of me.. I am now ready to continue on my day.. A shower generally takes me 10-15 minutes..

Longer depending on my night before, which is usually a late one..

I then brush my teeth, attempt to fix up my hair and I am out of the house by 8-8:15..

Now is my stumble to the bus stop, usually I'm in my own world with my music blasting..
Or if I'm tired, in a rush, will be in a rush coming home, or it is raining; I'll drive to the bus stop..
Normally a 5-10 minute walk, now a 20second drive@85kmh down Cox's Rd. Yes I plant it, it's fun!

Standing around at the bus stop, I see a whole lot of regular faces..
The people who are there from 7:55-8:05, the people there from 8:05-8:15, the people from 8:15-8:40, and so on and so forth..
It is the same people, between the same times.. With random new additions or people who missed the bus before..

There are the people getting the 288, 506, 287 and the new express 297..
The group always divides up, and there is always a line up..
The same people, doing their same routine, for their entire life.. As they, like programmed computers and machines, do the same thing.. Every morning..

Some mornings I like to break this line up, by walking past everyone and sitting on the stairs.. I get looks like
"oh how could he push in?!" and
"why didn't I think of that..?"..
It is a break to their routine, people generally get confused or put off when something comes along to break their routines..
"It just isn't right, something is different.." It is like their whole life just came crashing down for that second.. Their routine, the thing they are so used to, just got changed..
"What to do? What to do?" they probably ask themselves, as they become accustomed to this change..

Mum is usually with me in the mornings, so we stand there and chat about life.. She asks me about new girls, drugs, my car, explains problems, or confides in me for my opinion or advice..
We usually have good chats, it's good to be able to talk to my mother about things.. I trust her alot, she trusts me, we have a good relationship.

The bus trip has been so much better since the new Lane Cove Tunnel has been built.. Usually it'll take between 30-45 minutes to get to the city.. Depending on the traffic after the harbour bridge, down York st. in the city..

But, times like today, when dickheads crash into eachother (3 car pile up on Epping Rd), traffic gets worse..
If I get the 297 my trip is lessened by an average of about 15 minutes..
Getting me to the QVB and Town Hall Station much faster..

Usually on the bus there are alot of familiar people, again, they are on their usual routine.. Bus at this time, every day, every week, for the whole entire year.. For many years of their lives..
Sometimes I notice some pretty girls, some strange looking people, a huge pair of glasses, a bad odur, some nice perfume or cologne.. A familiar face that I recognize from somewhere..
When walking onto the bus, I look at the driver, some give me that welcoming nod, or a good morning.. It is usually 3 drivers I get, sometimes one I've never seen before..
One driver gives off a happy "Morning Folks!" and a
"Have a good day!" as people leave..

As I dip my ticket into the machine, and hear that familiar "beep beep beep" noise as it reads it, I look down the bus, to see if there are any seats inwhich I can occupy..
Upon finding this seat, I make my way down..
Noticing the curious eyes as they look up at me walking by..
As I sit down in the seat, me and the person that is usually beside me both make the awkward movement..
Even if they don't need to move over to give me room, they still tend to shift around..

I suppose they are thinking that if they don't, I may take it as a hint they want me, or they are rude, or something..
Who knows..
If I get my own row, that is great, and usually my mum will sit beside me, and we'll continue the conversation we were having before stepping onto the bus..

Sometimes I deliberately say a few things in ways, just to see if I can get some reaction from a person listening into my conversation..
I have seen people snicker, or be in awe or just confused, and I know then they must have been listening..

It is strange some of the things you can hear or see on just any bus..
Someone boasting about the girl they got..
Their new car..
The things them and their mates did on the weekend..
How their football team went..
How they think their wife or partner is cheating..
And one break up of a marriage over the phone..

One conversation I over heard coming from the 2 teenage girls standing behind me as we entered the bus..
It had about 4 'Likes'..
Followed by a couple of words..
Then 3 more 'likes' in a row
Broken by an 'and' and 2 more 'likes'..
I laughed, it was just so strange and so stupid..
How does one say that many 'likes' and not even realise it?
Sure, 'like' is probably one of the most commonly used words by any 1 teenager, but to that degree, in a row??

As the bus travels along its regular path, another regular routine in this world..
I'm either staring out the window, watching the cars go past..
Even then do I see a couple of the same cars, at the same place, at the same moment each day..
-The white 'Honda Integra' with the bronze rims and spoiler
-The red 'Lexus IS200' with the rims
-The black '2007 STI WRX' with personalised plates
-The silver 'Mercedez Benz' with green P-Plates..
All of which are random cars I see occasionally while travelling along the Sydney Harbour Bridge..

As we get into the city, the same people get off at the same stops along York St.
My stop being the last one..
At the QVB..
From then I walk to Town Hall Station..

Next up, Part 2: Along The Rails.