Usually there was a queue for this bus but today it was just her and an elderly couple at the stop. They waited and eventually the bus appeared around the corner of the road and stopped beside them with a hissing of brakes. They got in.
The bus with its load of now three passengers made its way around the suburbs and at the University bus stop she got out. So did the elderly couple.
She thought about them as she walked. Wondering what, if any, connection they had with the University. They were walking behind her and when she arrived at the Fine Arts building they followed her into the painting studios.
This, she said to herself, is weird, and she asked if she could help. There was no-one else around. Perhaps they were lost?
No, we’re not lost, they answered, but could we have a glass of water?
Sure, though we’ll have to use some other students’ cups. We don’t have anything for visitors.
She went to the sink, washed a couple of cups, filled them with water and gave them to the elderly couple.
We’ve come to invite you to lead our dance troupe
Weirder and weirder. She laughed. I'm not doing dance, she said, I’m studying painting not performance arts.
We often see you at the bus stop, they said. And sometimes in the park. You're a natural dancer. We need someone like you to lead our dance troupe. Why don’t you come this afternoon to see what it's like and who we are.
It’s not every day, she said to herself, that you’re stalked by an elderly couple. Oddly she didn’t feel violated, though she felt she should. Rather she felt intrigued.
It’s true she did like dance but had never seen herself as a dancer. It was also true that while she liked painting she had begun to think that she was struggling more than she had expected and her work, compared to other students, was lacking something. Something she’d not been able to put her finger on and something her lecturers had not been able to help her with.
But who are you, she asked, I’ve not seen you around before.
Come this afternoon and meet the troupe, they said. They gave her an address and suggested she come about 2pm. We’re so glad we finally had the opportunity to invite you, they said, and went out the door that they’d followed her in through.
She sat. Weirder, and weirder and weirder and weirder. That really was so strange. And where is everybody else today? She suddenly realised that since arriving at the bus stop the only people she’d seen were this elderly couple. She couldn't even remember seeing the busdriver.
And what did they mean by finally they had had the opportunity to invite her? Had they tried before? When?
She looked at her watch. Usually at this time there’d be at least four other students in the studio.
Remembering the other students, she washed the cups that the elderly couple had used and put them back where she had found them.
She turned on some music, went over to her workspace and …
And started to dance. Painting or attempting to paint was suddenly the last thing on her mind and with nobody else here she felt free to do and move however she wanted.
What had they said? You’re a natural dancer. She didn’t feel that herself but wasn’t that also what they’d said. You're a natural dancer though you don’t see it yourself.
Weirder, and weirder and weirder and weirder. Oh. I really must stop saying that she said to herself as she continued her dance. But I must admit I’m interested.
She suddenly remembered she had planned to go out with her boyfriend that evening. They agreed to meet later in the afternoon after he finished his shift. He wasn’t particularly happy to have the evening date cancelled.
Oh well, she said and did a little twirl.
Still nobody else had come into the studio and feeling like some fresh air she decided to go for a walk in the campus grounds.
She spent most of the rest of the morning in the grounds and went home about 1pm.
There was no-one queuing for the bus. Just her. Not even the elderly couple she thought as though she had half-expected them to be there, Just them and her waiting for the bus. But this afternoon it was just her.
She was the only passenger. I’m not going to say weirder, and weirder and weirder and weirder she thought, but it is. I’ve actually seen no one else today. She felt like an impartial observer of an unusual situation. It should feel threatening she thought but actually it feels benign,
Around 2pm she went to the address the elderly couple had given her
She was welcomed at the door by them both and led into a dance studio. She had expected to be alone - given the events of the day so far - but in fact there were 20 or more people of various ages chatting to one another as though waiting for the start of a performance.
Welcome to our new lead dancer, the elderly couple said, she’ll take you through your routines tonight.
She spent the next few hours leading the troupe but speaking to no-one.
When they met later, she told her boyfriend she was going to lead the dance troupe.
You’ve never shown the slightest interest in performance dance, he said. He fiddled with the flower in his hand.
I know but that elderly couple said I’d pick it up easily and I led the dance routines this afternoon with no problem.
He shrugged. It’s your decision, he said, not noticing the elderly couple walking on the path behind them. They smiled at her and kept walking.
She started to go after them but realising her boyfriend hadn’t seen them she paused.
Look, that’s them, Why not talk with them?
He turned but by that time the couple had rounded a corner in the path and disappeared. He hadn’t seen them at all.
Did you notice, she said, there’s no-one else here.
He watched the petals fall one-by-on to the ground.
They’ll soon be gone, she said. I want to ask them something, she said.
For a while the two of them walked together along the path the elderly couple had taken.
They didn’t say much. After a while, not having overtaken them, she said she’d go on by herself.
Oh. OK. I’ve got to meet some other people anyway, he said and threw the now petal-less flower away.
She turned around after a few minutes. He was no longer there on the path where they had parted. Now it was only her - and presumably the elderly couple - on the path.
Strange, she said to herself, the park is usually crowded at this time.
All day it’s been like this. Just me most of the time.
She continued for a few more minutes and at the seats near the fountain she saw them.
Hello, they called, come sit with us.
It’s a hard slog, they said, but we know you’re the best for the dance troupe. They passed her a glass of water. So refreshing, they said, have you told your parents?
She decided to visit her parents that evening. She hadn’t seen them for quite some time.
As before there was nobody but her waiting for the bus.
The bus came round the corner and with the usual hissing and stopped to let her get in. As it wandered around the suburbs, she thought about the last few hours. It had been weird. The only people she’d seen were the elderly couple and her boyfriend. Nobody else on the buses that she had caught, nobody else at University, and nobody else in the park. Then she remembered she’d seen the dance troupe. Seen, certainly, but they’d not said a word.
The only drink she - or anybody else - had drunk was water and she couldn’t remember having anything to eat.
Finally the bus arrived at the stop near her parents. She alighted and walked the short distance to their house. Though she had her own key she decided to knock. She didn’t want to barge in unexpectedly.
The door opened and much to her surprise it was the elderly couple who opened the door.
My parents? she asked.
They’re in the dining room, the elderly couple said. Come in.
She followed them to the dining room. The elderly couple offered her a glass of water which she took and seated herself opposite her parents.
Well this is exciting, said her mother, leader of the dance troupe.
She was surprised that her parents didn’t comment on the fact that she’d no longer be studying fine arts.
The elderly couple smiled and said, Yes, we’ve thought for a long time that she’d be what the dance troupe needed and glanced toward the mantelpiece.
There, instead of the photo of her grandparents, the one with them sitting by the lake, there was one of those cross-stitch embroideries which as a child she’d been fascinated by. On it was written.
She actually did know what was best for her.
She glanced at the elderly couple again and then back to the mantelpiece. The embroidery was gone. Her grandparents photo was there and as she looked more closely she smiled.
Thank you, she said.
There was a queue for the bus when she went home.
Copyright © timespareimagine 2021