Masks Are Mandatory

This is just a story. If you do not understand the ending then click on the hyperlink on the final line of this story. Music “You’re Crazy For Taking The Bus” by Jonathan Richman , sort of appropriate don't you think?

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In England it was fine , the government said you didn’t need to wear a mask. Yes, virus infections were the highest in the world , but the government knew what they were doing , and he always voted for them just like his daily red top told him to.

But he was in Scotland now and waiting for a bus.

You had to wear a mask in a shop , a pub , or a restaurant. They were infringing his human rights, he shouldn’t have to wear a mask, but knew that if he didn’t he would be hit with a huge fine (though he had no money really) or even jail , and then he would probably lose his job , so “When In Rome” or rather “When In Scotland”.

He pulled out his paper mask as the bus rolled up . The doors opened and he got on wearing his mask.

You can’t wear that on here

What, you are kidding me, I just bought this

Nope you can’t wear your own mask

You have to wear an official tested mask , take one off the pile there

He took one and put it on , paid his fare , contactless of course and turned to walk up the bus.

Most of the seats were filled , everyone masked and either glazey eyed or asleep

He did find a double seat and sat himself down.

Damn he had forgotten his headphones , he checked his phone, no bars , no signal. That was Scotland for you, so nothing to listen to , couldn’t even scan the net , make a call stream anything. He was cut off.

He was surprised that the only sound was the buses wheels on the road (it was electric of course) but no one was speaking, or snoring . No one was listening to music and no phones went off , if it wasn’t for the sound of the wheels there would be no sound at all.

The fibres in the mask were annoying him , like they were insects crawling on the skin of his face, almost as though they were stinging him. It didn’t really hurt but it was starting to get annoying.

He tried to pull it away but it was stuck. He couldn’t get the mask off and he was starting to have difficulty breathing. He looked round at the other passengers. He decided to get up and get off the bus , but he couldn’t move. He didn’t remember putting the seat belt on but these modern Scottish buses had all mod cons , unlike the ones he was used to back in England.

His breathing was getting shallower , his breath shorter , he was fading , fading , fading.

The light was dying , he was going , he now knew why the passengers were so quiet, the only one still functioning was the driver.

The driver continued along the road, his passengers were quite , the way he expected and liked them. This was his final delivery of the day.

He turned the bus into to the depot under the sign that read

SOYLENT CORPORATION - SCOTTISH BORDERS BRANCH …….