Today’s Writing Collaboration Challenge is a bit different and it comes from Matt Snyder. He just gave the dialogue for the character of the young man and asked me to fill in the blanks. An inspired challenge. As always, if anyone reading this wants to take part in future collaborations, get in touch!
Matt Snyder- Artist/Writer from Northeastern Pa, 31 years in the game. Works by day in Microfilm Quality Assurance but has been on one wild ride of an artistic journey. blogs at aprolificpotpourri.wordpress.com
THE LAST STOP
A short scene by Matt Snyder & Peter Wyn Mosey
A scruffy looking young man is sitting at a bus stop waiting on a bus, an older man approaches him with caution.
YM: There a problem?
OM: Listen kid, you gotta look after yourself. You want I can get help you get cleaned up?
YM: I don’t know you, what right have you got to judge me.
OM: You’re right I don’t have any. I’m just a voice of concern is all.
YM: (stands up and looks for the bus) Piss off.
OM: (Approaches young man) Listen, you look like you could do with a coffee. Let me buy you one?
YM: No.
OM: Come on. You’re clearly going through a rough time, let me shout you a coffee. Or a tea even?
YM: I said No !
OM: (Sits back down)
YM: Dude, just mind your own…
OM: You know you keep pushing people away. It’s fine. I know how this plays out. I’m telling you because I care.
YM: (The young man pulls out a photo from his wallet and begins to weep) I’m sorry…I’m so sorry…
OM: It’s okay kid.
The bus arrives. The old man gets up to get on and looks at the young man and says.
OM: They’re all one in seven billion.
YM: I loved her man, gone too soon. Fucking Cancer. I’m sorry I yelled at you Mister. Just been a real shitty day.
OM: I know. You carry that pain for forty-two years. It costs you your friendships, the chance of moving on in life, and you even throw away a great career. One day you’ll wake up and realize that you don’t even recognize yourself anymore. You’ll climb on buses and you will go in search of your younger self in the hope that you can say the words that you needed to hear back then. But finding a version of you that wants to listen means riding a lot of buses kid.
The old man gets on the bus and the bus departs.
Image by Stefan K from Pixabay
I love what you did with this…fancy another go sometime again ?
Anytime you like! Just drop me an email 🙂 I really enjoyed it!
This was very creative I must say. Enjoyed it!
Thanks Bulbul 🙂
Hi Peter, I’ve nominated you for the Sunshine Blogger Award. Check out this post:
https://bulbulsbubble.home.blog/2019/11/10/sunshine-blogger-award/
Aw thanks Bulbul. I’m really flattered! 🙂
You’re welcome. I look forward to reading your answers. 🙂
Super stuff! 😀
Loved the time-travel spin on it!
Great scene! So is the old man a time-traveler or a crazy Good Samaritan? Although I found the ambiguity pretty interesting itself.
I wanted it to read both ways. That there are genuine helpful people who can reach out to others, or that you have to help yourself.