Left home at a random time, to make an 11 am appointment. Arrived at my nearest bus stop, and already sitting there waiting were two ‘older’ women, one with a cane in hand. They were in conversation and obviously together so we nodded our hellos and continued to wait apart. The bus arrived, we boarded and the bus drove on. A dozen or so blocks later, I disembarked to catch a crosstown bus. Crosstown buses run east to west and vise versa while the bus I had been on runs only north. The W-E bus [the car and bus traffic on the cross town streets are two ways] was just pulling away from the curb, and I was on the far side of the street. No problem to wait for the next one, I had allowed time and was on a somewhat irregular schedule. As I stood waiting, the two ladies, slowed in walking by the cane bearer, appeared at the bus stop to wait along side me and others. The W-E bus eventually appeared, we all boarded and I thought no more about them.
Hours later I catch the now E-W bus and must take it to yet a fourth bus for the day, a bus that runs South, to return home. As the E-W bus approaches the South bound bus street, I see the desired bus, at the stop already. Disembarking from the bus, after some delay, I now have the traffic and the ‘don’t walk’ sign forbidding my ever making that bus. I am resigned; the south bound bus can be a long wait. [20 minutes] As I wait on the other side of the street, the bus does not leave. Hope. The traffic stops, the light changes and I run toward the bus that inexplicably still has not moved. As I approach the bus, a man is picking up the last cards and contents of his wallet. He had dropped it and had spewed the contents all over the entrance floor to the bus and a couple of pieces in the street. Because he was older and with a somewhat infirm companion, it had taken him longer than a young spry man to gather it all back up. I made the bus! I board, pay, and while walking along the aisle to the back, to my right I see the two ladies. ‘Well,’ I say, unasked, ‘What are the odds? I waited with the two of you many hours ago for the North bound bus and here we are now.’ “Yes”, replied the cane-less companion, “We are watching you, and know your every move. You better behave yourself, because we’ll be there.” I chuckled, and walked to the rear. Many blocks later at the end of the line, we three exited. They were first. As I passed them, I said, ‘What are your plans for tomorrow, are we on for lunch?’ “No,” said the cane-less one, we’re in all day, so you can have the day off too.” What are the odds.