Point of View Exercise

1. On March 3, 1991, a Metro bus stopped at the corner of New Street and 21st. The doors screeched open, and Peter Fletchly stepped onto the paved street. His eyes were weary from staring out the window of the bus for more than 6 hours. He blinked a few times and pulled his suitcase tightly in as a cold northern wind brushed over his face. He saw the plain, young women standing by the stop sign with her arms crossed. She stared at him harshly, wondering if this was the man she was waiting for. "I can do this," Peter thought.

2. The balding man sat straight up in his purple, cushioned seat as the bus crept along the wide city streets. He was thrown back and forth, bracing himself only with the armrests, as the driver navigated the sharp city turns. His small canvas suitcase was stuffed under the seat, and he periodically kicked it to make sure it was still there. Soon, the bus rolled to a stop and the man grabbed his belongings. He hastily walked down the aisle to the front of the bus. "Bye George, thanks for the ride," the man said. "Good luck, Peter," replied the bus driver.

3. The plain, young woman with long brown hair stood on the corner of New Street and 21st. She switched her weight from foot to foot and crossed and uncrossed her arms. She had been waiting for about 30 minutes when she saw a Metro bus emerging down the street. It turned the corner and began to slow down, coming to a complete stop at the corner. The doors screeched open and she heard a man's deep voice say something to the driver. Then, the man with the deep voice emerged like a bear out of a cave. "So you're my grandfather?" she said to him. Her eyes narrowed into little slits as she looked at her new guardian for the first time.

4. Every day at 5:00 I ride the Metro bus home from work. My coworkers often wonder why I do this when I could just drive myself home. I tell them, "It's for the economy." Today as I waited for the bus in the cultural district downtown there was a young girl waiting there with me, who I have never seen before. She looked very nervous and annoyed. As the 4:47 bus from Detroit arrived, I watched her as she followed the bus down the street. Her countenance became one of horror when it came to a stop. As the doors screeched open, a shabbily dressed man stepped off the bus. He looked around and hope sprang into his face when he saw the brown-haired girl.

5. I dunno when I first met Peter. I been bussin all my life and somehow he rode all my busses. Few weeks ago, he axed me to drive him to Cleveland to meet his gran'kid and I know he ain't got no money. He says he'll pay me back somehow but I know he ain't got nothin. I says of course cause he done a lot for me. I was drivin to Cleveland in two weeks. He was so excited. He kept huggin me and thankin me and talkin to me about the trip. When the time came, he sat straight up on the bus, never even readin or sleepin. I know he's thinkin about her. I wished him good luck on his way out. He's gonna need it.