Unscene #8

UnScene #8: Two scenes written for a former student who wanted writing tips.

In the Jeepney

Tomas clenched his fists.  He must get to the hospital in time.  He feared he would never see his son alive again.

“How could traffic be so heavy at two in the afternoon?” he thought frantically.  He ran his hands over his face again; his sweat was slick and cold.  “Bwiset, bwiset.”

He wished the two high school girls at the end of the jeep would stop their high pitched giggling and chattering.

“Allan, Allan.  Wait for me, anak ko.”

“Bayad po,” called one of the giggling girls, her handful of coins right in front of Tomas.

He cupped his hand and some of the coins clattered to the floor as the girl’s hand brushed his.  As Tomas bent to pick up a peso, he heard the girl whisper to her friend.

“Kadiri!  His hand’s so greasy.  Do you have any alcogel?”

Notes:

Jeepney: Public transportation in the Philippines

Bwiset: Similar to "Damn!"

Anak ko: "My child"

Bayad po: What you say when you pay for the Jeepney fare

Kadiri: "Gross!" or "Yuck!" 

Alcogel: Hand-sanitizer; alcohol in gel form

At the Bus Stop

Shirley was on cloud nine.  At last, after the many all-but-obvious hints, Robert got the message.  This bouquet of fragrant red roses is the proof.  No amount of rain clouds or delayed buses could darken her day now.

She kept on smiling to herself quite happily, until it began to rain.  She hadn't even noticed it had started drizzling.  She fumbled for her umbrella, nearly dropping her precious armful of romance.

“Oh no, my new dress! My roses!” she groaned in frustration.

But just as she managed to pull the umbrella out, a motorcycle sped by, splashing muddy street water all over her and her roses.

“Aaaaahh!” Shirley shrieked. “Stupid son of a...”

Shirley kept on cursing, stomping her mud-splattered shoes and shaking her wilting roses, until the bus arrived, fifteen minutes later.