Who could have ever expected what happened when the town of Paddington-on-Rye decided to commission a new crosstown bus?
On a whim, somebody had decided to paint the new bus with bright colors and add a face with eyes, nose, and mouth to the driver's end. And when the bus came alive and began talking, the townsfolk knew they had a tourist boon like no other!
True enough, people came from hither and yon to see, hear, and ride the bus, and the town's coffers swiftly filled. There was but one problem.
The bus had a personality like yesterday's underwear.
"Driver, slow down, you're gonna kill us!"
"It's too cold, I don't want anyone climbing on me today!"
"Well, that's a goofy-looking crop of tourists, especially the buck-toothed lady in the print dress!"
It was determined it would take thousands of dollars of therapy to cure the problem.
Either that or paint a smile on the front end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You're probably carping about it already, but I drove this story into the station at 158 words, well over the prescribed maximum of 100. But you don't meet a talking bus every day, especially one as downbeat and jaded as this --- and that's a bus after my own heart!
I'm sure you'll be talking about the various other takes on today's picture prompt by the many other Friday Fictioneers if you park yourself right here at the official Paddington-on-Rye Talking Bus Stop. No charge for unlimited parking.
The Wheels on the Bus Go "Outta Here!"
