The younger man puts in carefully counted change. He's just asked how much the bus costs around here. After I give him his transfer, he says in a pleasing accent, "Hey. I am trying to get to Everett?"
"Oh, I wish you had told me that before you paid, 'cause this transfer won't work on the Everett bus." I can see that for him, every coin counts. "I would've just had you pay the next driver. I'm sorry!"
"It's okay. It is my first day here! I come from Uganda, Africa!"
"Oh, wow! Welcome to Seattle!"
"Thank you! Can you let me know when it is time, I will sit up here so I know where to get off. I am just a little bit nervous, I don't know where anything is."
"That's okay, you just came across the ocean! This will be easy! You have already done much more difficult traveling! Seattle to Everett... you're not going to have any problem!"
He laughs, warm with relief and the glow of acceptance.
"Oh, I wish you had told me that before you paid, 'cause this transfer won't work on the Everett bus." I can see that for him, every coin counts. "I would've just had you pay the next driver. I'm sorry!"
"It's okay. It is my first day here! I come from Uganda, Africa!"
"Oh, wow! Welcome to Seattle!"
"Thank you! Can you let me know when it is time, I will sit up here so I know where to get off. I am just a little bit nervous, I don't know where anything is."
"That's okay, you just came across the ocean! This will be easy! You have already done much more difficult traveling! Seattle to Everett... you're not going to have any problem!"
He laughs, warm with relief and the glow of acceptance.
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