the little boy climbs into the seat next to me. we are playing a game. he looks at me, i smile, he turns away. his mother yanks him out of the seat and stuffs him in next to the window. she is grabbing his arms hard and he starts crying. she and the man with her are digging thru their sacks of stuff they have purchased, talking aboutwhat they will buy when they get their next check. the mother pulls the stephen king movie IT out of a plastic bag and says "we'll watch this one first." then she pokes the little boy and says "say the line anthony." he is falling asleep, his curls are smashed up against the window, and he doesn't answer. she pokes him harder and his little voice says "we all float down here georgie." it is the saddest and creepiest thing i have ever heard.

later, the man hits him in the head with a rolled up newspaper like he is a dog. everyone on the bus is watching, but trying to pretend like they're not. they are making him stand in the aisle, even though he is asleep. he is crying and trying to sit on his mom's lap. i keep looking, and the mom says "the way some people stare, you'd think i was abusing you." he keeps crying. i want to take him and get off the bus with him, bring him home and make him a grilled cheese sandwich, read him a book, not IT. they jerk him off the bus and drag him down the street. as the mom is exiting, she says "some people sure have a staring problem."

i feel like i have failed him in some way by not doing anything.