From: rfs@cbnewsh.cb.att.com (richard.f.j.soyack)
Subject: Encounter on a bus
Organization: AT&T
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 19:40:29 GMT

I don't know what made me think of it, but 25 years ago I
picked-up a girl on a New York City bus (it was the first time
I did this).  Maybe sitting here on a rainy Sunday made my
mind go back to that warm sunny day when I was walking
downtown on the westside of Second Ave at the intersection of
76th Street.  Standing across the street, about to board a
downtown bus, was a beautiful blonde.  As soon as I saw her I
ran for the bus, but it just closed its doors as I reached the
stop.  New York City bus drivers do not open doors once they
have closed them so I ran for the next stop, on 74th Street.
The bus pulled up and I got on.  It was about 5:30PM on a
weekday, so the bus was packed.  I looked around and spotted
her sitting near the door in the middle of the bus.  Even in
New York City in those days gentleman gave their seats to
older women and beautiful women.  I couldn't get near her, the
bus was so crowded but I did get my first good close look at
her.  I thought she must be a model or an actress.  She had
classic beauty but I couldn't get near her!

I looked around the bus to pass the time and to this day still
remember two of the signs that were on the bus.  One of them
was in front of me as I stood facing the side of the bus.
This was a quote from Emerson, I believe, "A man's reach
should exceed his grasp."  The other sign was opposite this
angel, and it read, "Every woman will have at least one
scoundrel in her life.  He will use her and then leave her,
and she will remember him for the rest of her life."

I spent my time looking at her and the signs, moving closer to
her every chance I got.  Everytime someone got off I was happy
to hear the driver chant, "Please move to the rear of the
bus."  Finally I was standing right in front of her. I tried
to catch her eye, but I couldn't.  When the bus came to 57th
Street and Second Avenue, she got off the bus.  The bus was
turning west on Second Avenue and she walked across the street
to the south west corner of the intersection.  I followed her
across the street trying to think of what to say to her.  When
she stopped in the bus stop, I walked over and said, "I
apologize for staring at you on the bus."

She looked at me with her stunning hazel/green eyes and said,
"Oh, were you staring.  I didn't notice."

After that I don't remember what was said.  I do remember that
we rode together to her stop on Thirty First Street and Second
Avenue.  Her name was Vitti VanCleef, actually that wasn't her
name but it was the name she used at the art gallery where she
worked.  Her real name was very Italian, and she was from
Pennsylvania.  Her job at the gallery was to answer the phone
and walk around with the rich clients smiling, while the owner
tried to sell them works of art.  The next day I sent her a
dozen roses, and took her to dinner at the Sign of the Dove.
We didn't have reservations, but Vitti and I never needed them
when we went out together.  After dinner we went back to her
apartment, but wound up making love in the stairway of her
apartment building because her roommate had a cold and they
shared a studio apartment.  Luckily, everyone in the building
seemed to take the elevator.

We saw one another, on and off for a few months.  I haven't
thought about her in many years, but it is a pleasant memory,
and I hope the sweet beautiful Vitti did get her dream and
wind up owning a gallery of her own.  As for me, I never did
make that appointment I had on 76th Street and Third Avenue on
that day when I ran after Vitti's bus.

Sweet memories to all,
Rich Soyack
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