Today is Madison Wood’s last day hosting Friday Fictioneers, and from next week Rochelle Wisoff-Fields takes on the mantle. Good for you Rochelle, we all appreciate your stepping up to the plate in this way. And thanks Madison, for the work you’ve put into this site. Thanks to Ron Pruitt for the photo this week – prompted me to go the sobby route. 😦
She won’t go, he thought, watching her stand in line.
Her shoulders straightened, and her chin lifted as she showed her ticket and climbed onto the bus.
He spotted her pale face, chin in hand at a rear window.
The engine started up, doors hissed shut and the bus pulled out onto the highway.
He walked in a daze to the truck, where Snoop sat, tongue lolling, tail wagging, leaning to peer round him to spot the other half of his people.
Head buried in Snoop’s fur, he didn’t notice the bus stop down the road to let someone off.
castelsarrasin 
I love a happy ending. This was so much like a 1930’s or 40’s movie. I could see the next shot where the bus speeds by and the couple are lip-locked in reunion. Well done, Sandra. Thanks for the welcome. (no “h” in Wisoff.)
LikeLike
I can’t believe I’ve done that again, Rochelle. So sorry, I know I hate it when people call me Sandra Cook or Crooke. Thanks for commenting despite that! 🙂
LikeLike
It’s an unusual name, Sandra. I’ve been correcting the mistakes since I could read spell. No biggie. The sentiment’s there.
I had a teacher who used to spell it “Wise-Off” for some reason. 😉
LikeLike
I was called Smith before I married – no problems there, except at hotel reception. 🙂 I’ve corrected it now.
LikeLike
Dear Sandra,
I love your story and echo your sentiment.
Aloha,
Doug
LikeLike
Thanks Doug! 🙂 Hope all is well with you.
LikeLike
I’m glad she didn’t go – at least that’s how I’m reading it – though if I was her, I wouldn’t be leaving the dog behind with him!
LikeLike
No, you wouldn’t catch me leaving the dog behind. Took me years before I managed to screw up the courage to leave home because of the family dog. 😦 Thanks for commenting Trudy.
LikeLike
Well done!
LikeLike
Thanks boomiebol.
LikeLike
Reading these nice happy stories almost makes me want to re-write mine 🙂
And I like the nice twist at the end.
LikeLike
Thanks Abraham, enjoyed yours.
LikeLike
Did she get back off the bus? Do tell…
Rochelle is right this reminds me of an old movie. I enjoyed this.
Tom
LikeLike
Thanks Tom. Yes, for the sake of the dog I think she probably did… 😉
LikeLike
Ah, so it was the dog that brought her back. The same would hold true at my house, I’m sure. The story reminds me of the song, “She’s Crazy for Leaving” by Rodney Crowell & Guy Clark. You painted the picture well.
LikeLike
If you want to keep your woman… keep a dog. 😉 Thanks Russell.
LikeLike
You almost brought me to tears… and that never happens.
LikeLike
Thanks Ted, and welcome back.
LikeLike
Awwww,
LikeLike
If all else fails… throw in a dog. 😉
LikeLike
😉
LikeLike
Hi Sandra,
That wasn’t weepy after you saved us with a happy ending. And I loved the dog missing her too. Just added to the despair. Excellent, as always. Ron
LikeLike
Thanks Ron, and for a different kind of photo prompt this week. It certainly opened up a variety of themes.
LikeLike
Sobby, yes! And good!
Scott
Mine: https://kindredspirit23.wordpress.com
LikeLike
Thank you (wiping away tears) … 😉
LikeLike
Nah, it was probably just someone who forgot to go to the bathroom before they got on. Either way, excellent story. 🙂
LikeLike
Is there no romance in your soul? 🙂 Thanks for commenting.
LikeLike
Dude – I like the way you think! Randy
LikeLike
Oh, would that it always turned out that way, but some days we need a happy ending. Good characterization and storytelling.
Here’s mine: http://unexpectedpaths.com/friday-fictioneers/an-inverse-relationship/
LikeLike
Occasionally I’ll go for a happy ending, or at least one with a hint of happiness. 🙂
LikeLike
I like a happy ending, too. Thanks for indulging me, Sandra! 😉 I love the “other half of his people” reference; that’s so spot on. And my Dad has a dog called Snoop, so this connected very well with me!
LikeLike
I quite often call my ‘dog’ characters Snoop or Snoopy – it just sounds right for a mutt. Glad you liked it
LikeLike
Really really a great story, Sandra. Totally heartbreaking (why is it the dog makes the heartbreak so much stronger than the human story alone?) and I *really* hope the ending is what I want it to be.
LikeLike
I love this. I wanted to cry when I read, “…leaning to peer round him to spot the other half of his people,” but then smiled in relief when I read the last line. Very nice.
LikeLike
I wasn’t thrilled by this one, and the dog was added in as something of a ‘rescue mission’. 🙂
LikeLike
Like the visuals of “her chin lifted”, then “chin in hand” to depict her changing mood.
LikeLike
Ah, didn’t see the double chins. Hmmm! Serves me right for not ‘leaving to simmer’ as I normally do. Thanks for commenting.
LikeLike
Yay! A happy ending. I love the chin in hand at the rear window, and the doors hissing shut. Well done! It’s very subtle and delicate.
LikeLike
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
A happy one-word response, Sandra…..AWWWWW…..
LikeLike
Thanks Lora! 🙂
LikeLike
Sweet ending. My favorite part is when the dog looks for “the other half of hs people.” And I’m a cat person…
LikeLike
I don’t often write about dogs – it makes me sentimental. Whereas I can enjoy but maintain a detachment when writing about cats… Thanks for commenting.
LikeLike
reminds me of the end of “the bridges of madison county,” when you waited to see if meryl streep would get out of the truck. nicely done.
LikeLike
I didn’t see that fim Rich. Glad you liked it.
LikeLike
I like happy endings, and I liked this. Good one
LikeLike
Thanks Bill. I don’t often indulge myself.
LikeLike
You had me at Snoop. No, but seriously, I’m glad it ended like that. Very cinematic and just enough sentiment.
LikeLike
It’s a nice name, Snoop. Yes, I get edgy as I approach the sentimental so fortunately the word limit pulled me up there. 🙂
LikeLike
Awww, I always love endings like that. I didn’t think it was too sappy, just the right amount of sniffles 🙂
LikeLike
Great story Sandra.
LikeLike
Aww, for me the dog was the most strongly emotional element; I loved that line about him looking for the other half of his people. And a hopeful ending is always nice — great job on this one!
LikeLike
Pingback: The Great Escape – Friday Fictioneers, October 2015 | castelsarrasin