Last Stop on Market Street

A man climbed aboard with a spotted dog. CJ gave up his seat.

“How come that man can’t see?”

“Boy, what do you know about seeing?’ Nana told him.

“Some people watch the world with their ears”

“That’s a fact. Their noses, too”; the man said, sniffing at the air.

“That’s a might fine perfume you’re wearing today, ma’am.”

Nana squeezed the man’s hand and laughed her deep laugh”

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“And in the darkness, the rhythm lifted CJ out of the bus, out of the busy city. He saw sunset colors swirling over crashing waves. Saw a family of hawks slicing through the sky. Saw the old woman’s butterflies dancing free in the light of the moon. CJ’s chest grew full and he was lost in the sound and the sound gave him the feeling of magic.”

The song ended and CJ opened his eyes. Everyone on the bus clapped, even the boys in the back. Nana glanced at the coin in CJ’s palm. CJ dropped it in the man’s hat.