A Street-Bus Named Opportunity

Once upon a time in Anywhere Land there were people who lived an Anybody life. Everyday seemed the same. It was boring, and people had learnt to live within limited means a long time ago.

Nothing exciting happened except for the arrival of a Street-Bus named Opportunity.

Opportunity went to a place called Somewhere, a land of great potential. Everybody in Anywhere Land was curious about Opportunity, but very few dared to catch it.

As for those who dared, it all seemed futile as Opportunity always had limited seats so the doors were tightly shut.

Everyday, Left-Out kept looking at Opportunity as it drove past his house, filled to the brim.

Everyday he kept pining for it, sighing while his neighbor, Not-Interested stood talking to him.

“I wish I was in there! It’s not fair!” said Left-Out. “They can take one more person in for sure! It wouldn’t be so much trouble!”

But Not-interested always explained to him “There is no point, that bus will be too crowded, too inconvenient. I’m happy where I am. You should be too.” This would make Left-Out even angrier.

One day as Left-Out stood at his gate ready to go to the market, Opportunity drove past his gate, but this time to his utter shock, Opportunity stopped and the doors opened!

Left-Out shook himself out of his shock and jumped in before the doors of Opportunity shut tightly again, this time with him inside it.

Nervous and scared, Left-Out scanned his surroundings, there were a hundred people sprawled on luxurious seats made of velvet and gold, almost all wearing a don’t-care-a-damn expression.

Left-Out was tapped on the shoulder by the Conductor..

“Your new name now will be ‘The-Last-Man-In’. You are incredibly lucky to get Opportunity because the previous Last-Man-In died of fatigue. We are travelling to Somewhere, but don’t ask me how much time it will take.

Opportunity travels around the same route sometimes so you may see your old home and are free to leave whenever you want. But if you are here, there are rules you must follow.“

Opportunity has place for two hundred people but we have only hundred people on this bus.

The travellers using Opportunity have voted they want no more people onboarded because Opportunity should be exclusive and they want to use the extra space because, well… they deserve it.

However, everyone has the power to use his vote and get one more person in. You can exercise your vote and get one more person, but he will be sharing your seat with you.”

Left-Out who was now Last-Man-In was dazed. That’s why he was never let in! These selfish buggers didn’t want to share Opportunity!

“But I was too brilliant and jumped in at the right time! I will use this Opportunity and also bring someone in with me if possible. Will try not to be selfish like these guys… “

Then he sat in a red velvet and gold seat himself that seemed the most comfortable seat of his life!

After every stop, the seat of Left-Out who was now Last-Man-In seemed to get more comfortable and he began relaxing, spreading his legs, and almost sleeping in his seat.

And he started thinking of all the good things he had done to deserve this.

Half asleep in his luxury, the Conductor’s voice woke him up sharply.

“The next stop is about to come. Last-Man-In, would you like to allow one more Left-Out to join you? He will share your seat but you will still be comfortable and have enough room.”

Left-Out who was now Last-Man-In opened his mouth to agree, but no words would come out. He was a very generous guy, but this didn’t seem fair! He had worked so hard to get here.

Whoever wants to get in must find their own way like he had!

How smart he had been to jump in at the right time!

As he stared back in silence, the Conductor smiled.

Life was so predictable in the Street-Bus named Opportunity.