Dogs on the Bus go ZZzzzzzzz

In Santa Cruz I bought two seats on the flota (bus) back home for lots of reasons: one being I didn’t want any problems about the dog and figured they’d be more lenient if I paid double. Also I didn’t particularly want to carry her in my lap for five hours, as she’s getting quite heavy, and furthermore the price is cheap: just 20bs. That’s less than three dollars each.

So of course a family of three sat across from me and shared two seats. The little girl clutched a hungry kitten wrapped in a sweatshirt. The boy squeezed into the middle and the mom flashed me a warm smile from the window seat. No elbow room there, no room to wave. The little girl, whom I would find out later is called Iliana, was about to sit next to me before she saw the dog curled up (it was dark). “Oh,” she said, disappointed and a little incredulous. “¿Ud. ha comprado dos pasajes? You bought two tickets? I had literally put Leona’s name on seat number14 and had a good laugh with the secretary at the terminal.

I mumbled something about her getting too big and heavy to carry in my lap, but as soon as it came out I had to bite my tongue. Her little brother was probably about six, and far bigger than my dog. No one buys additional seats here, and more often than not they take the chance that an extra will open up somewhere so they can stash their kids.

I thought about putting Leona in my lap and inviting the girl to join us, which would be in effect buying her seat, but then I thought up a bunch of excuses before I got around to it. I spend a lot of time uncomfortable here, so I take my few “luxuries” where I can get them. I just wish I didn’t feel so bad about it.