Jonny

A chance encounter...or divine appointment

A lay over at the inner city bus depot wasn’t Scott’s idea of a great way to spend three hours, but he didn’t book the tickets or pay for them. He was in between parents this year, favoring more towards his mother, mainly because she had much more time for him.

The building was like any other bus depot built in the 1930s, cold, concrete, and cavernous with hard wooden benches. Scott had three large bags and it was evident he was traveling alone.

“Jonny, hey Jonny. Over here.”

Scott looked over at the dirty homeless man and nodded.

“Jonny, you’ve gotta hear this, Jonny.”

Trying to ignore the old man but failing miserably, Scott stared straight ahead.

“C’mon, Jonny. I know you’re listening to me. Fine. I got one piece of advice for you since you’re probably traveling alone.”

The man stopped and Scott looked over at him.

“See, I knew you was listening. Here it is, Jonny,” He paused and looked around. “Trust in the Lord. That’s it. Short and simple, ain’t it, Jonny?”

Scott nodded in agreement, though he wasn’t quite sure what it meant.

“Come on, Bobby,” the depot police officer said a few seconds later. “Leave the boy alone.”

The cop looked at Scott and asked, “Was Bobby bothering you, Son?”

“No, sir. Just passing time. Friendly conversation, that’s all,” Scott said. And it wasn’t a lie.

“Well, if he does, just say the word and he’ll be out in the street in two shakes.”

“You hear that, Bobby?”

“Yeah yeah yeah. Not harming no one. Just giving Jonny here some friendly advice from a long life of bad choices.”

Scott and the old man remained silent for the time Scott had left at the depot. Occasionally, Scott would look over at him and he would return with a smile.

When the announcement finally came for Scott to begin boarding, he walked over to the old man, stuck out his hand, and shook the old man’s. Scott had another few hours to contemplate the old man’s morsel of wisdom.

In fact, Scott had an entire lifetime to think it over.

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