Artificial Angels

I ordered a doll.

Not just a quick pick, either. Okay, the head was full impulse (good thing as it sold out in one damn day), the the rest was not. I reasearch it. I dug into resin comparisons, neck dimentions, overall height, all of the old overcomplicating I used to do. It was *lovely*. Then I chose her wig, eyes, and plotted out her vibe and color palette.

Once upon a time I had an insurmountable need to visit the Humane Society. While there, I met the rolly baby above. (Please ignore any audio, I was having a Bad Voice Day[tm].) She is seven months old and had the placeholder name "Wombat".

I already had a character.

My city has a very robust public transit system. I do recognize and appreciate this fact. Sometimes, though, I get home with stories...

I am on my way to work. I pull the stop signal and start scooting out to stand and exit. I notice a woman go to the front and presume she is deboarding as well. Unusual as I am typically the only one for my stop. That us when I catch what she is saying. She is i forming the driver that it isn't her stop.

She did not do this at any other stop in the last ten minutes.

She did NOT pull the cord by accident. (I know as I pulled it.)

Strange.

The driver responds quietly and I can't hear his side. She looks over her shoulder at the man seated across the aisle from me. "He isn't getting off, either."

The bus is navigated to my spot and I haul myself toward the exit. The driver speaks yet again and this time the woman turn and looks directly at me. Standing, as you recall, by the door waiting for a full stop so I can get myself out of Doge.

"Okay," she huffs, exasperation carrying her voice like a battle cry, "but I don't need this stop!"