"A woman on a bus today carried her Pekinese dog inside her handbag. It had a red bow on its head that matched her sweater."

‘A woman on the bus today carried her Pekinese dog inside her handbag. It had a red bow on its head that matched her sweater.’

Therefore, it came as no surprise that some youngsters, clad in hip-hop clothing, and who had just boarded the bus started to make remarks about her and her pet.

"Hey, look! What a nice doggie with a red bow on its head! A real Mama's dog! Going to Neuilly probably?"

"What's its name? Chubby, maybe?" "Hmm, would make a nice treat for my pit bull"

"And what's the lady first name? Scarlett, Lola?" "Put the dog aside and make room for me on your lap"

"How come you are riding on this bus? Someone like you should be driving a BMW!"

Anna remained silent as the jokes and the laughter went on; she just patted her dog and sighed from time to time. Why did she have to take that bus today? She usually took the subway; it was much quicker. Moreover, she was sure to get a seat since she would board at the first station on line 4. She had come across Tom on her way out of her office; as he, too, was leaving, they had chatted; his bus arrived, she followed him as she had already done a few times; she would then arrive home a little later and spend a little less time until the next day in her empty flat. Now Tom wasn’t even seated by her side and they were no longer talking. The young people kept pestering her; she didn’t answer. If she really was the kind of person the youngsters thought she was, she probably practiced yoga and relaxation on a regular basis, hence her quiet demeanor.

It had been her turn to take Leo home tonight. The dog was still being trained and had to know and trust each member of the team. Every week, Leo would spend one night at each member’s home in turn in order to get acquainted and obey its different masters.

It was not before the bus had passed some stops that the situation started degenerating. Three bus conductors had boarded at the last stop and were checking everyone held a valid ticket; the young people completely forgot the young lady and turned their animosity towards the conductors, thus proving they were riding for free. It was no longer jokes but insults.Everyone was afraid and wondered how to get out of that mess.

The situation grew tense; the bus conductors were outnumbered, they started retreating; the youngsters' rage doubled. At this point, the young lady took her handbag, stood up, and so did a young black guy who, so far, had seemed totally disinterested in what had been happening. Both o them went straight to the gang; presented police badges and quietly ordered the young people and the conductors to get out of the bus and wait with them until a police car arrived. The young people looked aghast and didn't know what to say or how to behave; the black guy was communicating by radio while giving hard looks to the troublemakers. Leo, which had jumped out of the bag, sniffed intensely one of the boys’ bag on the floor: Tom and Anna exchanged a rapid glance; the boys not only made trouble, they also carried drug.

I realized security was still tight in Paris even months after the terrorist attacks but I would never have suspected that some police officers would go to that extent to work undercover.

Comments

[ABS]

Idée originale. J'ai eu un peu de mal à comprendre les dialogues (qui dit quoi) et aussi à visualiser si Tom monte dans le bus (mais La, c plus ma compréhension de l'anglais). Sinon j'aime bcp