But fate had other plans.
As the bus curved down Main Street, Lila’s thoughts floated. She imagined what prom might be like. Maybe she’d even find someone to dance with.
Suddenly, voices rose at the back of the bus.
“Sir, do you have a ticket?” a transit officer asked.
Lila glanced behind her. A man in a weathered coat stood near the exit, his face pale with anxiety. He looked to be in his mid-forties, his hands shaking.
“I—I left my wallet,” he stammered. “My daughter’s in the hospital. She had an asthma attack. They won’t release her without me. Please, I was rushing and forgot—”
“You’re in violation,” the officer replied. “The fine is $150, or we escort you off.”
The man’s eyes brimmed with desperation. “Please, don’t make me miss this. She’s only seven. They need my signature.”
