The Bus Stop

• Sarah McTiernan, Grade 5
• Short Story
• 2022

I tugged my coat tighter as I forced myself to walk to the bus stop, although only a set of trudges came out. A cold autumn breeze brushed past my skin and made me quiver.
“Make a giraffe!” remarked a kid. I glanced over to my side to find a small girl pouncing up and down watching a man do something. I squinted trying to make out the shapes of the distance. His hands weaved and twisted a long tubular object, making an animal. I tried harder until I realized what it was; a balloon animal. I ran straight into my destination, banging my head against the wall of advertisements.

“Are you okay?” a voice asked. I slowly sat up and observed my surroundings. The same dull, dark world was what appeared. I lay there for a while until I noticed something in the horizon move.
“The sun finally decided to show up,” I thought. Although, the sun seemed off. It reflected like rubber and the shape was more defined. I rubbed my eyes twice before confirming it.
“I said, are you ok?” the voice spoke again, more sharp than last time. I stood up and glanced around to find where the voice was coming from, but it projected from all directions. Something cold grabbed my shoulder. I paused still as stone before carefully turning around. I shrieked as I became nauseated and vibrant colours filled my vision. Images of balloons getting twisted was all my mind could see. Soon my vision returned to normal and I dizzily attempted to stand up, crashing to the ground. I steadied myself before standing again. As soon as I stood up, I noticed my ears wiggle; my ¨something is going on¨ sense turned on. The ground was bouncy, the world was brighter, and the bus stop was no longer there. Something bounced in the distance, and being curious, I rushed after it. The rubber, twisted, creature was bestowed before me. I squealed; it was so cool to see it up close I forgot how nonlogical it was.

“About time you stopped screaming,” the giraffe groaned and rolled its rubbery eyes.
“You can talk! This is the best!” I exclaimed and squeezed the balloon animal. Suddenly, more creatures appeared. There were monkeys, poodles, fish and countless more! I lay down, bringing multiple creatures with me. I giggled and laughed as I named each creature,
“Fluffy, Ruff and, what should I name you?” I glanced down at the yellow shark.
“HONK!” it exclaimed jumping up and down. I replied with a small chuckle,
“Ok, you can be called Honk!” Although, the shark kept repeating those words,
“HONK! HONK!" Suddenly, all the balloon animals joined him in unison. I screamed as my hands flew to my ears. Quickly, the bright colours started fading and became darker. I glanced around to find myself back at the bus stop.
“HONK!” the bus shouted. I gathered myself up and entered the bus, I’ll get my own balloon animal someday.