The Atlas

GOING BUBEYE

Sit back! Achilles, sit back! We're gittin' ready to go bubeye. I said jist wait a minute. Look around! Those are LIGHTS. That's fer the night time when people's readin'. Now sit back an' enjoy it! I said enjoy it! Isis, gimme the bag. Isis, I'm not playing. Isis, stop. Now eat your crunchies. That's it. That's a good girl.

When's the light gonna come on?

In a minute, okay? You don't want no more? Now eat 'em! Bus driver gonna come in a minute. Sit back in yer seat. He'll be there; now jist sit down. The man who took the ticket, the same one, he's the driver.

Can you smoke up here?

No.

Why?

'Cause it says don't smoke.

The bus driver didn't scare me, Mama. He didn't scare me.

Here we go. i

How come the light don't come on?

They don't put the lights on.

Why?

That's at nighttime, hon.

Is this the freeway, Mama?

Uh huh.

Good morning, ladies and gendemen, and welcome aboard Greyhound's Oakland-San Francisco service. I'd like to thank you for travelling Greyhound. Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Thank you.

Is this where we went before?

Shut up and eat. That's right. Have some more, hon.

What's this?

Just leave it. Leave it alone.

Why?

'Cause I said so.

Mama, what's that?

I assed you to sit back!

What's that boy and girl doing over there?

Sit back! Sit back and act like you don't see things!

Is he helping her go to the bafroom?

Shut up! Don't talk dirty.

That boy and girl sure are fidgety. How come they don't sit back? How come that boy keeps pulling up that girl's dress?

Uh huh.

I'm hot. I'm gonna pull up my dress, too.

You can't.

Why?

'Cause you're not supposed to. Pull down your dress. No more, now.

Mama, is they going to the bafroom?

Sit back! I'll whack you! Now REMEMBER that. Sit back. Just move yourself back. That's a boy. Sit back. I'm not telling you again. I'll knock you down.

Ow!

Leave 'em alone. That's a girl. There you go. What you got your hands up Achilles's pants for? Stop it right now.

They was doin' it over there.

I said take your hand out!

Ow! Ow!

You gonna remember now? Now shut up! I told you not to see things. What's over there?

They's. . He's helping her go to the bafroom. — Ow!

Now you know what happens when you try to see things. What's over there?

I dunno, Mama. Nothing.

That's right. That's right. Don't you ever try to see things.