The Bus

Rain fell from above as a small child sits patiently at a bus stop. Sitting besides him is a rather odd creature. Compared to the boy, it was about the size of a doll dressed in a black cloak. It has small beady black eyes but no mouth but was still able hum as it rock back and forth. The child didn't seem bothered by it at all.

"How long have you been waiting?" the young boy asked, breaking the silence.

The doll looked away as if it were thinking before answering, "It seems like forever but I'm not here for the ride."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"I simply sit here and keep people here company till the bus arrives."

The boy curiosity began to grow as he continuing questioning it. "what kind of people have you met?"

"Mostly young ones, some old, maybe a few middle aged adults." It hopped off the bench. The young boy, still curious, looked out into the rain.

"Does it always ran here?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Only when the young ones come here." It answer in a hush voice. just barley audible. Rain continued to pour down as the boy started to kick his legs back and forth.

"What's your reason for coming here?" It wondered.

"I was really sick, so mommy and daddy thought it be best if I went to go see Grandma and Grandpa for a while. " he continued to playfully kick.

"I see, you do know its a one way trip right?"

"I know, but mommy promised me that one day they will both come to see me and then we can be together again." The boy looked up at the doll with a big smile on his face. It looked at him with a blank look on its face before turning back to the rain.

"Where do your grandparents live?" It continued asking.

"I don't remember but Mommy told me it was really pretty there. The flowers are always in bloom. Everyone is nice to each other and there could be others my age to play with there too."

The doll knew of the place the boy was describing, it knew all too well what it was and what the name is. The doll came back to the bench and jump to sit back on.

"This used to be a river you know?" The doll continued.

"Really?!" the boy look at the doll then at the road in confusion.

"It used to be called The Lethe River. Now its called Forgetful Lane. Don't ask me why I forget sometimes." it gave the boy a playful wink as the boy let out a small chuckled.

The faint sound of a bus horn alerted the two as they spotted the faded light off in the distance becoming brighter.

"Well, here comes your ride." the doll looked back at the child to see him starting to tear up. "What's a matter?"

"I won't see you again will I?" he sniffed back his tears.

"No you won't. By the time you reached the end of the road, you'll forget all about me and our conversation."

"But.." as if on cue, the bus pulled up to them, doors folded back as it came to a stop to reveal a middle aged man with a kind brown eyes, curly brown shoulder length hair with a beard to go with it.

"Hello there son, ready to go, we don't want to keep your grandparents any longer now do we?" the driver cheerfully asked.

"You know my Grandma and Grandpa?"

"Of course, I know everyone who comes on this bus. They personal came up to me to ask to take extra care with their grandson." A smile appeared on the boy's face as he began to climb up the steps but stop to turn back to the doll.

"Aren't you coming?"

"I already told, I don't ride the bus." the doll turn back around to sit back on the bench as the door closed. The boy hurried over to an open window as the bus began to continue forward.

"Can I have your name at least? My name is Jason." He called out from the bus. The doll looked at with him with sadness in its eyes.

"The Reaper has no name." It quietly answered.

"Alright passengers, onward to our final destination: Heaven." The Driver called out as the bus drove away from the bus stop leaving the doll behind as it continue on down Forgetful Lane or what others also call it: The Highway to Heaven.