The Meeting (In two Parts)

The Meeting (Part 1)

You will text me when you’re over that dilapidated bridge near the old hospital and then you will text me again at the end of the line, when you get off, because sometimes it takes a while to get off, so when you get off, text me.  In your text say, “I’m at the drug store,” then be at the drug store, not at the arcade, like all of you always are, not at the beach with your pants rolled up and your mouth wrapped around a beer like they frequently do, no, if you text me that you will be at the drug store, which is what you will do, then be at the drug store, be there waiting for me and I will be outside, by the green and black awning, that’s where you should be, the drug store can be quite big, so you will wait in front of the big green and black awning and I will show up seven minutes or sooner after I receive your text and you will know when I receive your text because I will text you back, I will text you back, “ I have received your text I will see you soon”, and when, I text “soon”, whenever I text, “soon”, it would pay you great mind to realize that in seven or fewer minutes whatever it is that the “soon” modified will come about, naturally, great acts of nature or God’s will aside.

The Meeting (Part 2)

Now before leaving pack food and plenty of water as the trip is quite long and conditions are never dependable and the bus driver, bus drivers being what they are, probably will only stop in gas stations, and won’t allow passengers to leave their seats, except to use the on-board bathroom, so you won’t procure sustenance en route and if you do go to the bathroom, I had one ugly character several years back who refused to, if you do use the bathroom you will lock the door and bring your possessions with you, which of course means that you will travel with a minimum of provisions, you will travel with only food, water, a change of clothing, if you read, a book, your phone, maybe a hat and a light jacket, and make certain your phone is charged, only a fool would bring more than that.  Sometimes they bring several bags with them and wonder if I missed them at the drug store, I did not, and I will not miss you should you show up with a department store’s collection of matching bags and briefcases and suitcases and luggage and other conspicuous packing cases, and as far as you knowing what I look like, don’t you pay any mind to that, you wear the pin I mailed you on your  left side of a white button-down collar and I will find you, white button-down collar, and you won’t be eating any nachos or sushi or  tasty soup on the bus, no, if your shirt is stained I will walk right by, if you are twitching because, say, you are hungry, because maybe you forgot to bring a snack, water, or you are nervous and are constantly pacing, shuffling your feet, I won’t stop, if you look like a crazy traveler with enough bags for a small family I won’t even come near, but I am repeating myself, so text me when you get off and I will see you soon after that.