Part 2: Double Trouble

Given a car while in Mississippi, Steve thought riding a bus to pick it up would work best after taking his wife home. His wife, Jena, was blind, and he couldn’t drive two cars. He dropped her off, gathered a few things, and boarded the bus at midnight, expecting to arrive at noon the next day to navigate the same roads once again.

That sums up part one of the “From Mishap to Mission” series I started last week. If you’re joining us for the first time, and want to read the introduction and part one, you can do so here. Introduction: “From Mishaps to Mission“ Part One: “The Journey Begins With Surprises“

Double Trouble
Interesting start, Steve mused, gazing out the window as the bus lunged forward for Steve’s twelve-hour ride.

The constant drone of the motor lulled half of the passengers to sleep. Tired from both preaching a revival and driving ten hours home, Steve desired sleep, too. However, the unexpected excitement he witnessed before boarding left him unsettled. Forcing himself to recall the great revival ending the night before relaxed him a bit. Tension returned when Steve’s thoughts went to his wife having to stay home by herself. God’s Word, the Bible, would help so he clicked the Bible app on his phone and inserted his ear bud.

He managed to doze a little before and an hour after their first brief stop. His growling tummy woke him so he pulled some peanut butter crackers from his plastic bag. He knew he’d be changing buses at his next stop. Munching helped him stay awake.

First Encounter
Descending the bus stairs, the smell of fried food greeted him. Entering the door, he followed the crowd to the counter. While Crispitos might be far from a feast, it would be plenty to satisfy an empty stomach. He ordered two of them and a drink. Food in hand, he headed outdoors to find a place to sit and eat and wait for the next bus.

Before crossing the threshold to exit, a woman’s scream made Steve jump with fright.  His food flew high above the napkin, but he caught it. Craning his neck, Steve’s eyes landed on a rather large angry man several feet from the rest of the crowd, punching a woman in the face. Onlookers would think they were opponents in a boxing ring, except he was the only one hitting. To his surprise, all those surrounding them continued smoking, chattering, or staring at their phones, as if nothing was happening.

Blood flew everywhere. “Hey! hey! What do you think you’re doing? That’s not necessary” Steve shouted. The man turn his attention towards Steve. Yanking his phone from his pocket, he went toward them as his thumb pressed the 9-1-1 keys.

“Don’t get involved,” the dispatcher advised. Steve reached the couple, the man moved away, staring at him with a piercing look. Shortly after an officer from just around the corner arrived, who quickly proceeded to arrest the angry man.

With the bleeding woman lying alone on the asphalt, Steve squatted beside her and held her head until help arrived. Sirens roared in the background as he spoke softly in an attempt to calm her. Blood continued to trickle from her nose, ears, and the abrasions on her forehead and cheeks.

Steve assisted the paramedics in loading her into the ambulance when his ears heard the intercom bellow his bus would be late.

What am I going to do now? I don’t really think sleep would be appropriate, Steve thought before he remembered his cold Crispitos.

Second Encounter
He headed to eat in a fenced-in area, where wooden benches were an extension of the wooden fence, providing seating around the entire perimeter. He sat among a dozen or so slumbering individuals and chewed his cold food. The next thing he knew, his eyes were heavy. Tired of resisting sleep,  Steve reclined on the hard bench he sat upon, and fell fast asleep.

Before long, the smell of gas woke him up. Unsure if he was dreaming, he rubbed his eyes, peered through the dimly lit space to discover a man wearing tattered clothes. He held a gasoline can with gas gushing out its nozzle, while he poured on the fence.

Instantly, he sprang to a sitting position, head shaking in disbelief. He did what came natural to him . . . be friendly. “Do you do this often? Is this normal?” he inquired.

Holding the can still, the man raised his head and looked at Steve as if he was the crazy one. The manager rushed out as waking people scurried. Sirens filled the air once again.

The owner had seen this horrible feat on his security monitor and had already called the fire department. Steve jogged away wanting no more of this insanity.

Inside, he found a quiet spot to listen to more scriptures to calm himself. Besides, he was beginning to believe sleep was overrated. Before one chapter had played, the intercom announced the arrival of his next bus.

Steve’s great idea of traveling at night so he could get sleep wasn’t seeming so good now. He wouldn’t have dreamed such danger lurked. Nonetheless, fear nor tiredness prevented him from doing the right thing.

His trip is supposed to be halfway over. Will he still get there on time? Does more trouble exist? If so, will he continue to do the right thing?

Let’s Talk. How are your reactions when you’re tired or afraid? Would you have handled either of these situations differently?

Be sure to visit Amazon to get the whole story HERE.

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