On a Bus

maggie

There were many people in the bus and no vacant seats. When a woman entered, an old man near the door attempted to rise, but she forced him back into his seat. “Thank you,” she said, “but please don't do that. I am perfectly able to stand.”
“But, madam, let me…” began the man.
“I ask you to keep your seat,” interrupted the woman with the hands on his shoulders.
But the man tried to rise, saying: “Madam, will you kindly permit me to…”
“No, no,” said the woman and again forced him back.
At last the man managed to get up, saying; “Madam, you carried me three blocks beyond my house. I wanted to get off.”