Ride to the Sixth Stop

Wanda started at a new school in September. The school was across the city. Her mother took her there in the first week. Now her mother worked early. Wanda had to ride the tram alone.

On Monday, she stood at the tram stop. Her hands were cold. She held her bag tight. A tall boy stood next to her. He wore a blue jacket and big headphones.

"You look worried," the boy said.

"I am not worried," Wanda said. She looked at her shoes. "Okay, I am a little worried. I do not know the stops."

The boy pulled down his headphones. "I am Zeke. I ride this tram every day. Come with me."

"Thank you," Wanda said. "My name is Wanda."

The tram came. It was long and white. The doors opened with a loud noise. Zeke went in first, and Wanda followed.

"First, your card," Zeke said. "Touch it here. Wait for the beep."

Wanda touched her card to the small screen. It beeped. She smiled a little.

They found two seats by the window. Zeke pointed at a map above the door. "Your school is at stop six. Look. Here is the line."

Wanda looked at the map. She counted the dots with her finger. "One, two, three," she said slowly.

"Good," Zeke said. "But do not only count. Read the name on the screen. It says the next stop."

The screen showed a word in yellow. A woman's voice said the same word. Wanda read it twice. Then she looked out of the window and counted again.

"Now the button," Zeke said. "Press it at stop five. Then the tram stops at six."

"What if I forget?" Wanda asked.

"Then you ride to stop seven. You walk back. It is not a big problem." Zeke laughed. "I did that once."

At stop five, Wanda pressed the yellow button. A little bell rang. The tram stopped at the next stop. Zeke stood up. "This is yours."

They walked to the school gate together. Wanda stopped. "Thank you, Zeke. This was easy with you."

"Tomorrow, you do it," Zeke said. "I sit behind you. I say nothing."

On Tuesday, Wanda touched her card first. The tram beeped. She sat by the window. Zeke sat three seats behind her. He did not say one word.

She looked at the map. She read the names on the screen. She counted the stops with her finger. Once she looked back. Zeke only smiled and lifted his hand.

On Wednesday, Zeke waited at the stop. He pointed to the next tram. "Today, I stay here," he said. "I have a test later. I take the next one."

Wanda looked at the long white tram. Her heart beat fast. "Okay," she said. "I can do it."

"I know," Zeke said. "Text me at stop six."

Wanda stepped inside. The doors closed with a soft noise. She touched her card, and it beeped. Then she found a seat by the window. She put her bag on her knees.

One stop passed. Then another passed. She read each name on the screen. A boy stepped in at stop three. A girl stepped out at stop four. Wanda watched the map and held her breath.

The screen showed a yellow word. A voice said, "Next stop, Garden Street." That was stop five.

Wanda stood up. She walked to the door. Her hand reached out and pressed the yellow button.