Jack on the Bus 2

Author – Jack

Jack’s trainers and phone where at the lost property office, much to his relief. His brothers white Nike Court Vision trainers where by the front door, Jack decided to wear them to go and collect his own trainers.
The lost property officer asked curiously as to why so many shoes were found on the bus, Jack wasn’t keen to admit the truth so said he and his mates were drunk and stupidly thought it would be fun to abandon them.
The guy said the fun would now cost £10 to retrieve them.
“I have to pay to get my shoes back?” Said Jack.
‘Get your mates to share the cost.’ Said the guy as he gave Jack a bag containing not only his shoes but the others too.
Jack was reluctant to take all the shoes but didn’t want to admit to lying.
His phone was dead, he would have to charge it at work.
He hurried home and got confronted by his younger brother for wearing his Nike Courts.
‘Just because you lost your own shoes doesn’t mean you can wear mine.’ Said his brother Nick.
Jack had no time to argue, he kicked off his brothers trainers and hurried up the stairs in his socks to get changed for work.
Jack emptied the bag of shoes onto his bedroom floor, he still felt guilty about taking them, his Air Force Ones were looking grubby, he noticed the drunk guys black loafers. He put them on, a snug fit with his white sport socks, he changed them for a pair of black ribbed socks, the shoes fitted perfectly he looked quite smart.
A busy teatime rush of workers grabbing a beer before heading home had ended, the other barstaff went home leaving Jack alone until closing time. His newly acquired loafers had been comfortable on his feet especially when he could slip in and out of them allowing his feet to cool from the AC.
Later that evening the place was empty until a young guy entered. As Jack poured his pint, the guy said he had lost his shoes the night before, it was the drunk guy from the bus. Then the guy remembered talking to Jack at the bus stop.
‘Did you see who took my shoes on the bus last night?’ He asked.
Jack’s face was bright red as looked at his feet. This hadn’t gone unnoticed by the guy who leaned over the bar and looked at Jack’s footwear.
‘You’re wearing my shoes!’
‘I can explain!’ Said Jack.
‘You stole the shoes off my feet, I’m calling the police!’
Jack told him to calm down as he tried to explain but the guy wasn’t listening he was too angry. The guy demanded his shoes and free beer or he would definitely call the police. Jack removed the loafers and passed them over the bar, then poured the guy another pint.
Jack was feeling pretty pissed off, it had cost him £10 to retrieve the shoes and now he would have to pay for this guys beer too! He still had no shoes on his feet and none of it was his fault.
After several pints, the guy left carrying the loafers leaving Jack shoeless. More customers arrived, as Jack stood serving behind the bar he could feel his socks sticking to the dirty beer stained floor.
Eventually Jack closed up and headed for the bus stop. Another bus journey home in his socked feet, fortunately wearing black socks made his shoeless feet less noticeable.
As the bus headed out of town Jack switched on his now fully charged phone. He reviewed the video from last night. The camera view from the bus floor showed several pairs of feet. Two pairs removed their trainers, then Jacks feet came into view, he watched uncomfortably as he took his own trainers off. After a while his and the other socked feet disappeared down the stairs of the bus followed by the teenagers. As he was about to stop the video the teenagers feet reappeared, he listened to their conversation.
‘Did you recognise the guy who took off the Air Force 1’s? It was Nicks older brother.’ Said the voice of the masked teen who Jack thought he knew last night.
Then Jack remembered his conversation with his brother earlier. How else would Nick have known about him losing his shoes. He was feeling pretty angry as he rode the bus home in his socked feet again but a smile appeared on his face. His brother and his mates had some explaining to do!