The Bus Driver Who Waited
A free A2-level English story for language learners, readable online in 4 languages, with an option to listen via the free Storyteller app.
Ailsa, who drives the last night bus, breaks a small rule to wait for an old man with a heavy bag.
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Ailsa drives the last bus of the night. It leaves the station at 11:40. Her route goes past the river, the hospital and the old market. At this hour, the bus is almost empty.
Tonight she stops at the market and looks in her mirror. Far down the street, an old man runs toward her. He holds a big bag of shopping in one hand.
The rule says the bus must leave on time. If she is late, the next driver is late too. Ailsa looks at the clock. It is 11:40.
She waits. She counts slowly in her head. The man comes closer. His bag hits his leg with every step.
At forty seconds, he climbs on. For a moment, he cannot speak. "Thank you," he says. "This is the last bus. I have no money for a taxi."
"Sit down and rest," Ailsa says.
She closes the doors and drives on. They pass the hospital, and then the dark river. The old man gets off near a small park. He waves from the street.
The next week, he gets on the bus again, this time early. He gives her a paper bag. Inside is a warm pastry with cheese.
"Only once," he says. "The rules are the rules."
At the end of the line, Ailsa turns off the engine. She eats the pastry in the quiet bus.
