Cars and buses passed her by and the minutes ticked by even faster. What in the bloody hell was going on? The bus should have arrived long before now. Daphne's arms were tired from carrying so many packages and if she didn't sit down, she was sure she might faint.
As if by fate, a bus slowed to a stop in front of her and she no longer cared that it wasn't the one she wanted. She'd simply ask for a transfer. The bus door opened and she smiled at the driver as she moved to enter.
"Thank God. I've been waiting forever and me feet are killing me!"
"Actually ma'am, I'm not in service right now." The driver said.
Daphne's mouth fell open in disbelief. "What?"
"I'm headed down south to the base."
"But I've been waiting here forever!" Daphne repeated. "Where's me bloody bus? The Number 43? It's over twenty minutes late! If you can just take me as far as-"
The driver shrugged. "Sorry ma'am. There aren't any buses running down this street."
Daphne was horrified. "What?"
"Because of the tree lighting the city rerouted all of the buses over onto Fifth Avenue, so you'll have to walk up there if you want to catch a bus."
"But I don't-."
"Just look for an orange crescent sign on top of the bus stop sign-where the routes are listed."
"But-."
"Have a nice night, ma'am. And happy holidays."
Before Daphne could say any more the bus sped away, leaving her even more confused.
With a sigh she looked up and down the street which was nearly deserted. How could she have been so stupid? She should have known that something was going on. After all it was what the retailers considered the busiest shopping day of the year. Surely she wasn't the only person in Seattle waiting for a bus! And yet, here she'd stood for an hour, waiting for a bus that would never come.
Wearily she sank onto the poor excuse for a bench at the crowded bus stop, wanting so badly to cry.