Every Tuesday

Short story for my creative writing class! Hahahaha Joey, you inspired me!

Every Tuesday

  Joey O’Niell took the bus every Tuesday. It wasn’t because he needed to. Joey O’Niell had a car. In fact, it was a very nice car. Many of his co-workers envied Joey O’Niell’s car. He took the bus and rode for hours. He had been doing the same thing for years. The bus driver knew Joey O’Niell. He had been riding the bus ever since the driver had started with that route. They exchanged hellos and goodbyes but the driver never knew why Joey O’Niell rode the bus every Tuesday at the same time.

Joey O’Niell sat in the back and just stared. Many people took out books or iPods. Joey O’Niell carried a briefcase. It was a very nice briefcase. The kind lawyers or important business men carried. Joey O’Niell never took anything out of the briefcase. He just had it on his lap as he looked around. Joey O’Niell liked to stare.

                Joey O’Niell hardly ever talked to anyone while he rode the bus every Tuesday. Elderly women would make small talk. He replied with a bright smile on his face. Joey O’Niell was very polite. He replied when spoken to. He answered every question the elderly women would ask. He would offer his seat to women and children. Joey O’Niell was a gentleman.

                Joey O’Niell was young.  He wasn’t too young. His face had a youthful glow to it. The emerald eyes sparkled behind horn-rimmed glasses. Joey O’Niell had expression marks around his eyes and bags under them. His sandy blonde hair is neatly parted. Joey O’Niell couldn’t be older than 35.

                Joey O’Niell was noticed by several people. They all asked themselves why he was only on the bus on Tuesdays. No one had the courage to ask. Joey O’Niell never thought to explain his actions. He never thought anyone was interested in what he was doing. Joey O’Niell didn’t know that the day had finally come when someone would ask.

                Joey O’Niell was sitting in his usual place when a little girl walked over to him. Her fiery hair was in pigtails. Her emerald dress matched Joey O’Niell’s eyes. The little girl took the bus every day at that hour with her mommy.  She always saw Joey O’Niell and smiled. She sat down in front of Joey O’Niell, she turned and asked, “Why do you only ride the bus on Tuesdays?” Joey O’Niell didn’t notice how quiet everyone was. He looked down at the girl with the crimson hair. Joey O’Niell smiled and looked out the window.

                Joey O’Niell began to tell his story. He was married to a beautiful woman with long black hair. She was an artist, she mostly painted. She would go every Tuesday to the museum to practice painting. Joey O’Niell always let her take the car. She would pick him up after her time at the museum. Joey O’Niell’s emerald eyes became glossy.

                Joey O’Niell needed the car one Tuesday. He had to drive to a meeting and told his wife to miss her day at the museum. She refused and said she would go on the bus. Joey O’Niell agreed to pick her up after his meeting. He didn’t know it would take longer than expected. She called him and left a voicemail. Joey O’Niell took out his phone.

                Joey O’Niell played the message for the girl with the fiery hair. His wife said she would just take the bus home. They were closing the museum and she needed to get home before it rained. She said she loved Joey O’Niell and hung up. Joey O’Niell suddenly looked older. His eyes were leaking. Joey O’Niell hadn’t seen his wife since that day.

                Joey O’Niell shook his head and wiped his eyes. He looked at the girl with crimson hair. He smiled as she took his hand. Joey O’Niell rode the bus every Tuesday. He took the bus to the museum. He took the bus home from the museum. Joey O’Niell rode the bus every Tuesday because he was waiting for his wife to come back. Joey O’Niell still had hope.