No 8 bus. 7th February.

Minutes grind by and the bus stands humming at the stop. It’s ten to nine. and we’re not even on Bethnal Green road. The air is thick with suppressed late-commuter-rage. A smiling face pops up from the stairwell - and another.

A steady stream of wide-eyed five year olds clamber up the stairs wearing high-vis jackets and massive schoolbags. ‘WOWWWEEE!’ one cries as he runs down the aisle. The stiff backed grown-ups allow a little smile. The already world-weary minders try to shepherd the kids into seats and quash outbreaks of ‘not fair’ outrage over who gets to go by the window. The bus pulls away.

“Traceeeey, look. LOOK. It is ‘Ah’!’ says one boy pointing. The commuters heads turn just a touch. We pass a sign with the letter A.

“That’s right!” replies a middle-aged woman brightly before turning to nod through another head-count.

A large old man with yellowy-grey hair sitting up front looks tentatively across at the little passengers on the other side of the aisle. His face is red and puffy. He almost says something but stops himself. And then…

'“C’mon then kids… the wheels on the bus go round and round…’ The kids giggle. ‘Round and round’ he continues, now slapping his knees with his hands ‘round and round!’ High little voices join in and soon the front half of the bus are all singing along. Further back little necks strain to see what is happening. “The wheels on the bus go round and round…’ The old man gives it gusto and finishes with a bellowing ‘ALL DAY LOOOOONG!’.

He gets up with a chuckle and addresses the whole deck from the top of the stairs, ‘Goodbye kids, you have a nice day!’. Rows of little hands wave goodbye as he huffs down the stairs. A moment later they are back looking out the window, fingers squished against the glass as they spot a fire-engine and a police station.

‘Traceeeey you can buy things there!” the little boy says as we stop a moment outside a DIY shop with a 70% off sign plastered in the window.

‘What kind of things could you buy do you think?’

“Hmm”, he tilts his head, “I think it’s a SHOP'.”

“That’s right!” says Tracey.

“Traaaceeeey. LOOK. It’s a ‘T’ AND a ‘D’!

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