Title: The Oddball Observation
Author: phantagraeRating: G
Disclaimer: The characters and universe of this story do not belong to me. I just like to play with them.
Feedback: Yes, please. phantagrae@earthlink.netSummary: Sheldon is seen on the bus on the way to Amy's, late one night.
I don't usually ride the bus at this hour, but then again, not that many people do, I guess - people who work the graveyard shift, and people like me who find themselves out at odd hours now and then. I do ride this route every day, to get to and from work, to run errands, so I see a lot of "regulars" on this bus line.
You meet a lot of strange people in California, including this crazy guy in his pajamas, with a pair of bongos, of all things.
When he first got on the bus, he was playing and chanting the names of businesses or streets along the way, but thankfully the driver told him to stop. So now he's playing softly with one finger of each hand and muttering under his breath.
Oddly enough, though, it seems I've actually seen this guy before - but looking completely different. This is the skinny weirdo who once lashed himself to his seat with bungee cords...
He's what I call a semi-regular. He doesn't ride every day like I do, but often enough that I know he works or studies at CalTech.
He's usually fairly neatly, though casually, dressed, hair neatly combed, carrying a laptop. He fusses over which seat to take and apparently always carries disinfectant wipes that he uses on anything he needs to touch, as well as on his hands. He always seems puzzled when others try to greet him or engage him in conversation. And he's often very rude.
But tonight he's completely different.
Plaid pajamas, no disinfectant wipes, no bungee cords, incorporating everything into his random bongo poetry, even engaging a few strangers to inspire his chants.
"Four-teen people, riding on the bus…"—tappity-tappy-tappy-tap.
"Three in the morning, riding on the bus…"—tappity-tappy-tappy-tap.
"Mrs. Gutierrez, riding on the bus…"—tappity-tappy-tappy-tap.
Though it's slightly annoying, at least it's something interesting. And crazy.
To paraphrase something I once heard on television, 'Don't all the nuts roll downhill to California.' Still, I'm almost sorry when he rises to leave.
"Playing my bongos, getting off the bus…"—tappity-tappy-tappy-tap.
"Visiting Amy at three in the morning…"—tappity-tappy-tappy-tap.
"Wonder if Amy will like my bongos…"—tappity-tappy-tappy-tap.
I hope that whoever Amy is, she's prepared for this.
Skinny weirdo...