Alice

A Story by RuthS

A conversation overheard at a bus stop.

They were standing at the bus stop talking quietly between themselves, silhouetted by the light from the advertising panel.

‘I’m worried about this.’

‘I’ve told you there’s is no need for you worry, I’m old enough to look after myself.’

‘There can be all sorts of trouble in the city centre.’

‘I can take care of myself and I’ll stay away from trouble.’

‘But look at you,’ he sighed in exasperation.

‘I know; it’s long time since I dressed up for a night out on the town.’

‘But what’s with the fancy waistcoat and string tie ?’

‘I’m on a date.’

‘A date !, with who ?’

‘That’s none of your business and don’t you look at me like that. I never said nothing when you went out on dates.’

‘That’s not true; I had to tell you where I was going, who I was meeting up with and when I would be home.’

‘Yes well, you were younger then.’ There was a brief pause, ‘I’ve got cash on me for a taxi if I miss the bus home and I will call you on my mobile if I get stuck.’

‘That’s something I suppose, but who are you meeting up with, why all the secrecy ?’

‘It’s not a secret, it’s just personal like.’

After a few moments hesitation, ‘It’s Alice from my book club.’

‘ALICE !!’

‘Shhhhh keep your voice down.’

‘Why are you going on a date with her ?’

‘She was the one who invited me out.’

‘But….’

At that moment the bus arrived and they moved towards the door.

‘I will be fine, trust me.’

‘Ok, well I hope you have a good time I guess.’

‘Love you son.’

‘Love you too mum.’

© 2012 RuthS

Author's Note

I was playing around with dialogue, trying to use dialogue to tell the story rather than use narrative prose.
I also wanted to play around with role reversal, instead of the parent worrying it is the child that's worrying and with breaking stereotypes by having the mother going on a lesbian date, or was that too opaque in the story??