by Thomas L. Traband III
“That was the Add Counsel with their #1 smash hit, ‘Leaving Your Heart In San Francisco Doesn't Mean You Can't Love Me In Kalamazoo (And Get A Nice Income Tax Deduction To Boot)’. What a mouth full. This is Bus Terminal, your morning drive time land mine, looking for a gold mine. Right now, I'm gonna open up the phone lines for a random phone scan. Tell Bus what's on your mind.”
A bank of transparent buttons lit up in front of him. He looked out through the sound proof glass at his engineer, Joe Crowley. Joe sat at a similar console, it too filled with buttons and lights and switches and dials. Joe gave a ‘thumbs up’ sign. Bus jabbed a button.
“Hello, you're on the air...”
“Bus? Hi! I love your show. Will you play a song for me?”
“You bet.” He punched another button. “Hi, you're on the air...”
“Bus, my man, how's it going?”
“Just great.” He gave an exasperated look and hit another button. “You're on the air...”
“Bus, this is Jenny,” said a familiar voice. “Are we still on for tonight?”
“Uh, yeah. Right,” he stammered.
“Good. I look forward to seeing you. I love you.”
“Yeah. Hey, you're on the air...”
“Bus, this is Mary,” the new voice said sweetly. “Can you explain who Jenny is?”
“Yes.” Click. “You're on the air...”
“You two-timing son-of-a...” began another female voice.
Click.
“You're on the air...”
“Bus, you're dead. I'm gonna rip you apart,” screamed still another woman.
Click.
“WDED, the only station in town that keeps you in touch with the other side. We're dead.” Bus looked at Joe and shrugged his shoulders. Joe smiled. Click. “You're on the air with the late Bus Terminal...”
“Not late enough, Bus. How about a chat with Jenny?” said a gruff male voice.
“Sure. Have your girl call my girl.” Click. “You're on the air...”
“Hi, Bus,” said a sultry voice.
“Hi.”
“I love your show.”
“Thank you.”
“I also love a man with a little,” the caller exhaled, “experience. How about dinner sometime?”
“Yeah, what's your name?”
“Frank.”
“That's all the time we have. Sit back and groove to these vibes...”