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I was getting the bus back to the parents when I ran into a friend who I hadn’t seen in a couple of years. She has recently had a baby and was sat on the bus with her newborn in a pram. We were very pleased to see each other, and I went to stand next to her and chat as the bus was almost full and there were no seats left.
A couple of stops later and the bus is so full that the driver turns a large amount of passengers away. Not much that can be done about that. Suddenly, we start to overhear a conversation between the four old hags sat opposite us.
H1: There was someone with a wheelchair waiting to get on and they got turned away. An absolute disgrace.
H2: I blame that girl with the baby. She could have easily have folded the pram and given up her space for the wheelchair.
H3: Better yet! She could have left the bus! Then the wheelchair would have definitely got on!
H4: I guess she just discriminates against the disabled.
Friends jaw dropped. Here was the thing: me and her were completely unaware that someone with a wheelchair had been turned away up until this point. Plus the four old women were sat in the place that was also designated for wheelchairs and prams!
Friend: *under her breath to me* Can you believe this??
H1: And yes! We are talking about you!
F: Why don’t you just mind your own business? I didn’t see you four offering to give up your spaces!
H2: We’re elderly! We shouldn’t have to give up our seats for anyone!
H3: You ought to be ashamed!
F: We didn’t notice there was someone with a wheelchair waiting.
H1: You hate disabled people! You are horrible and inconsiderate!
H4: I like the disabled.
H2: We know you do dear. We all do. Except these two!
Me: Seriously, please be quiet and leave us alone.
H1: A baby and no wedding ring too. Says it all.
F: Shut your fucking mouth!
H2: She swears in front of children too.
H3: Hates the disabled and swears of front of children.
Me: Please shut your horrible mouths. How dare you make presumptions about us when all we have done is board a bus and chat.
H1: You should have given up your places for the disabled.
Me: Well we didn’t know. If we had been aware things might have been different. The bus is full and there’s nothing we can do about that.
H1: My mother was in a wheelchair. I know how to treat the disabled.
H2: And my mother taught me common courtesy!
F: Being judgemental, making presumptions and just generally being a nosey bitch is classed as courtesy in your world? Seriously, do not talk to us again.
H1: We don’t want to talk to you. You’re both horrible!
They turned around. Friend and I were sat absolutely gobsmacked. But it didn’t stop there. They carried on their conversation through hushed voices, the occasional part leaking through.
“I would have given up my seat right away if I was them.”
“What do you expect from young people?”
“If my husband were still alive he would have removed them by force.”
My stop arrived.
Me: It was erm…lovely to see you again.
F: I want to say we should do this again but that feels wrong.
Me: We should. We’ll just remove the hags from the equation.
H1: I heard that!
A couple of stops later and the bus is so full that the driver turns a large amount of passengers away. Not much that can be done about that. Suddenly, we start to overhear a conversation between the four old hags sat opposite us.
H1: There was someone with a wheelchair waiting to get on and they got turned away. An absolute disgrace.
H2: I blame that girl with the baby. She could have easily have folded the pram and given up her space for the wheelchair.
H3: Better yet! She could have left the bus! Then the wheelchair would have definitely got on!
H4: I guess she just discriminates against the disabled.
Friends jaw dropped. Here was the thing: me and her were completely unaware that someone with a wheelchair had been turned away up until this point. Plus the four old women were sat in the place that was also designated for wheelchairs and prams!
Friend: *under her breath to me* Can you believe this??
H1: And yes! We are talking about you!
F: Why don’t you just mind your own business? I didn’t see you four offering to give up your spaces!
H2: We’re elderly! We shouldn’t have to give up our seats for anyone!
H3: You ought to be ashamed!
F: We didn’t notice there was someone with a wheelchair waiting.
H1: You hate disabled people! You are horrible and inconsiderate!
H4: I like the disabled.
H2: We know you do dear. We all do. Except these two!
Me: Seriously, please be quiet and leave us alone.
H1: A baby and no wedding ring too. Says it all.
F: Shut your fucking mouth!
H2: She swears in front of children too.
H3: Hates the disabled and swears of front of children.
Me: Please shut your horrible mouths. How dare you make presumptions about us when all we have done is board a bus and chat.
H1: You should have given up your places for the disabled.
Me: Well we didn’t know. If we had been aware things might have been different. The bus is full and there’s nothing we can do about that.
H1: My mother was in a wheelchair. I know how to treat the disabled.
H2: And my mother taught me common courtesy!
F: Being judgemental, making presumptions and just generally being a nosey bitch is classed as courtesy in your world? Seriously, do not talk to us again.
H1: We don’t want to talk to you. You’re both horrible!
They turned around. Friend and I were sat absolutely gobsmacked. But it didn’t stop there. They carried on their conversation through hushed voices, the occasional part leaking through.
“I would have given up my seat right away if I was them.”
“What do you expect from young people?”
“If my husband were still alive he would have removed them by force.”
My stop arrived.
Me: It was erm…lovely to see you again.
F: I want to say we should do this again but that feels wrong.
Me: We should. We’ll just remove the hags from the equation.
H1: I heard that!
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