A funny thing that happened on the bus

29 Jul 2025 - Evelyn

A couple years ago, I spent a notable chunk of my week taking the L train two stops to get to Ridgewood. Two stops on the train is the easiest thing in the world. You just get on and get off. There’s nothing to it.

In October of 2022, there was a weekend where the train wasn’t running, so I hopped on the L shuttle around Bushwick/Aberdeen or maybe Broadway Junction. I hate the shuttle bus. I don’t really mind most other buses, but this one always gives me nausea and it’s just kind of frustrating to be on the bus when you thought you were going to be on the train. At least the trip isn’t very long. I usually like to sit in one of the little one-seater rows by the front, put my headphones in, and wait for it to be over.

A man gets on at the same stop as me and very quickly starts asking the other people around him “does this bus go to Broadway Junction?” and getting the same reply, “no,” over and over. He’s not satisfied. He walks up to the driver and asks the same thing. I couldn’t hear whether or not the driver replied. He announces to everybody, “This bus is going the wrong way. We should be going to Broadway Junction.”

The bus is headed down Decatur Street. We pass Central, Wilson, Knickerbocker, Irving, and suddenly the bus slows down. The driver yells back at us, “I don’t know where I’m going. Does anybody know where the bus goes?” and the bus explodes.

The one guy who thinks we’re going the wrong way tries to seize the moment. “GO RIGHT” he yells, insisting that we should head right back the way we came. One man, a white guy, balding with some gray hair, stands up, the voice of reason, and tells the driver to turn left onto Wyckoff.

Mr. Wrong Direction is really upset now. He could’ve gotten off at the previous stop but didn’t. He starts yelling at the balding man. “Fuck you! You don’t know anything.” The other man tells him to sit down. “You fucking he-she,” says the wrong direction guy. My ears perk up. I’m locked in now. The guy giving directions is not even a little bit gender non-confirming. He looks like the straightest man alive.

The bus stops on Wyckoff probably four blocks before it’s supposed to. I take my chance and get off. Shortly afterwards, I see the bus turn left, away from where it’s supposed to go.