Episode notes
Chapter 7: Indiana Dunes
While the rest of us used the bathrooms one last time, Driver Brian went to sleep in the driver’s cabin and Driver Chris changed into a pair of red lifeguard shorts and a stained grey t-shirt with the words, ‘I am Made of Meat’ half hidden behind his copious facial hair. The beautiful brown-skinned teacher from New York was sitting on the buddy seat with her back leaning against his shoulder, so I sat on the first seat across the aisle next to Mother Michelle. She was telling the Irish Twins all about her previous cross-country trip.
Apparently, PAC-MAN had only brought one change of clothes with him, so Driver Chris reluctantly allowed him to hang his wet garments on the dashboard handrail. While it seemed odd to bring no clothes on a ten-day adventure trip, I found his tiger-print underwear even more disturbing. I was not the only one who noticed either. Chicken Jim called him out on it as soon as he hung them up to dry. “Are those yours,” he questioned with a laugh.
The Chinese man grew defensive. “Why yes,” he stammered. “What’s your problem?”
“I’ve just never seen underwear split down the sides like that before,” marveled the Pennsylvanian. “They look like something my grandmother would wear.”
“They are very comfortable,” he defended.
Is that polyester?” asked the rookie.
“It’s silk,” he explained.
I felt bad for the guy, but I had to admit, his underwear was snazzy. I had never seen anything like them before. Although, this was my first experience seeing an Asian man’s underwear.
“Leave him alone, Jimbo!” Driver Chris admonished. Then he shouted, “Buddy check!”
“Buddy check!” I shouted. Several others repeated the call. I spotted my buddies, Guitar Johnny, Big Dave, Mother Michelle, Little Josh, British Sue, and English Tessa. They were all present. I counted twenty-one passengers not including Chicken Jim. The buddy check calls trailed-off and the bus grew quiet. “Everyone’s here,” I told the red-bearded driver.
“Great,” he responded. He attached a pen to his logbook, tossed it onto the dashboard and started the engine.
Jewels asked him, “Where are we headed?”
As he turned the bus around in the parking lot he spoke in a distracted manner. “Our first stop is Toledo, unless there’s a good place to stop along the highway. I’d rather not go into the city unless we have to. I need to call for an update on my brother. There’s a Greyhound Station there in case I need to go home.”
“Goddess forbid,” said Jewels.
“Yeah,” he breathed. “I’d hate to have to put you guys on a Greyhound. Once you’ve experienced the Tortoise, you can’t go back. Greyhound can be a twisted nightmare of back spasms. Hopefully, the news is good at home.”
“You must be beside yourself with worry.” Jewels spoke soulfully. “I’m here for you if you need anything; I’m your girl.” She was so empathetic and wonderful. Her mere presence made you feel better even if nothing was wrong. “Did you find out how the accident happened?” she asked.
“It may not have been an accident at all.” He took on a serious expression. “Our best guess is that he was mugged,” he spoke with emotion in his voice.
Jewels’ face went blank and her whole body froze.
“Oh my God,” that’s terrible cried Yülia. “Did they catch the guy?”
“No. It’s not like that. It’s just a theory,” he informed us. “The police were never called.” He stroked his beard as if he was anxious and kept hold of the wheel with one hand. “The important thing is he survived.”
“How is he doing?” Jewels wanted to know.