Evening star., 1949-01-15
This and That
By Charles Z. Trace,UeN

Templeton Jones, who has been riding the
buses for 20 years, thought he had met all
the inconveniences.
He knew the lady who tilts her wet UNI
brella so that all the water runs down ones
collar.
He even had his toes stepped on for spite
He had been coughed at. sneezed on. pushed,
hauled this way and that way had readers
push him In the back Of the neck with papers
He remembered the old lady in black who
insisted on keeping her umbrella up because
she said the roof was leaking.
And one old gentleman who gave religious
lectures to the assembled passengers.
Il II
In his 20 years, Templeton Jones had learned
how to be discreet, how to change seats df nec-
essary), how to poke ones elbow out unob-
trusively as the fat lady sat down, to slide her
OIL where she belonged.
He knew, or thought he knew. all the tricks
OF bus riding, keeping well in mind the sage
words OF world traveller who told him, IF
you expect to be comfortable in travelling, you
will meet only disappointment"
.Templeton Jones loved to put his own
dripping umbrella out of the way, so that 1t
would neither press up against himself or
others.
He had evolved philosophy of riding in
would keep theirs.
But he had not met it all yet
That happened the other day, the very wet,
soggy day when umbrellas held more than their
proper share Of moisture
Jones managed to get to his favorite seat
first
Every rider has a favorite seat.
With some, it is up front, maybe the inner
seat, by the window, the first on the right.
With others, it is in the back. Jones doesn't
like 1t back there, because 1t Is too hot, or
so he says.
This expert was glad to get his favorite
place on that wet day. 1t meant that he could
recline his lady-style umbrella against the
wall, out Of the way of any one.'
He settled back in comfort
Everything had worked out well, so far.
There was no paper poked in the back of
his neck, nobody standing over him. allowing
water to drip down of hat.
Everything, considering the morning, was
going along smoothly
But what was that?
Jones felt an uncomfortable prodding in
his right shoulder, right at point where it
hurt.
He tried to overlook it. but his shoulder
wouldn't.
Finally, since the thing didn't move, Temple
ton Jones leaned forward and looked around.
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with a curved handle.
Yes, you have guessed it
The owner had hung the umbrella on the
back of the seat, 50 that the point stuck
straight into the Jonesian shoulder.
The lady spoke first
Does that bother you?" she asked.
Jones was firm
He was polite, but firm.
YES" he answered. 1T does. 1t annoys me
very much. You see, it happens to be at the
precise point of discomfort. some way or other" )"
Jones held his breath. Would she take it
away, or would she act nasty about it?
I'm sorry" said the lady.
And she took the umbrella away much to
Templeton Jones relief He didn't know what
he would have done, if she hadn't.
Somehow or other, all the day downtown he
could feel that umbrella prodding him in that
sensitive point in his shoulder.
He hopes it will be sunshiny from now on,
for the next rainy day he will be expecting-
Yes, you have guessed 1t.
It never happened before, in 40 years. but
now that it has occurred once, it may happen
again.
Maybe the next rainy day. Who can tell?
Not Jones. He'll be seated there, his shoulder
itching waiting