Madam Rides the Bus

By Vallikkannan

Summary

The story, Madam Rides the Bus depicts the strong desire  and her determination to fulfill  it, of a young eight-year-old Tamil girl Valliammai.

Being alone, Valli’s favourite pastime was to stand on the doorway of her house and watch people boarding the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It used to give her a sort of unending joy as she was curious to explore the world out of her village.

Soon her joy shaped into a strong urge to have bus ride and explore the adventures around her village.

She became determined and started making plans and collecting all the information about bus ride I.e. the time taken to come back , the bus fare etc by listening to the conversations of her neighbors and saving money.

 She learnt that the bus journey from her village to the nearest town was approximately six miles. The bus fare cost thirty paise for a one-way ride.

Valli decided to take the bus ride during the afternoon when her mother usually sleeps .

After having a fruitful plan and required money, one Afternoon she boarded the bus.

 She told the conductor that she   wants to go to town.

The conductor was a jovial person. He found Valli, a daring little girl who boarded the bus alone and behaving as a mature and responsible person instead of being worried, thus out of his surprise he referred  Valli ‘madam’ and told her to take her seat. She noticed that the bus was painted in green and white colour stripes and looked brand new. The bus seats were luxurious and the ride was comfortable. During her journey, Valli enjoyed looking at the greenery outside and the scenic natural beauty from the bus.

She enjoyed her bus ride and got amused seeing a young cow that ran wildly in front of the bus and crossed the road. The driver blew the shrill horn as the cow crossed the road.

It was a great adventure and an outstanding experience as her passion to have a bus ride finally became true.

At last, the bus stopped at its final station, it was a town market with  lot of stalls. The conductor suggested her to get down and have tea in the stall. Valli refused to do so. Although she was afraid of getting down the bus, she answered very smartly that she has little money to have a return bus ride.

During traveling back to her town, Valli noticed the dead cow and recalled that it was the same cow that was crossing the road. At the sight of the bleeding cow, she realized the reality of death and became serious and sad.

According to her plan, Valli reached her home on time and found her mother had woken up and having a conversation with the neighboring lady. Her mother couldn’t get a clue that Valli had had an adventurous bus ride alone.

Story

THERE was a girl named Valliammai who was called Valli for short. She was eight years old and very curious about things. Her favourite pastime was standing in the front doorway of her house, watching what was happening in the street outside. There were no playmates of her own age on her street, and this was about all she had to do.

Word meanings

Curious- eager to know or learn something

But for Valli, standing at the front door was every bit as enjoyable as any of the elaborate games other children played. Watching the street gave her many new unusual experiences.The most fascinating thing of all was the bus that travelled between her village and the nearest town. It passed through her street each hour, once going to the town and once coming back. The sight of the bus, filled each time with a new set of passengers, was a source of unending joy for Valli.

Day after day she watched the bus, and gradually a tiny wish crept into her head and grew there (her little wish to have a bus ride became a great desire or passion). she wanted to ride on that bus, even if just once. This wish became stronger and stronger, until it was an overwhelming desire. Valli would stare wistfully at the people who got on or off the bus when it stopped at the street corner. Their faces would kindle in her longings, dreams, and hopes (she used to become more fascinated towards her desire of travelling in the bus). If one of her friends happened to ride the bus and tried to describe the sights of the town to her, Valli would be too jealous to listen and would shout, in English: “Proud! proud!” Neither she nor her friends really understood the meaning of the word, but they used it often as a slang expression of disapproval.

Word meanings

Wistfully- longingly
Kindle- set alight (fire), here, feelings
A slang expression- informal words, often used within a close group

Over many days and months Valli listened carefully to conversations between her neighbours and people who regularly used the bus, and she also asked a few discreet questions here and there. This way she picked up various small details about the bus journey. The town was six miles from her village. The fare was thirty paise one way — “which is almost nothing at all,” she heard one well-dressed man say, but to Valli, who scarcely saw that much money from one month to the next, it seemed a fortune. The trip to the town took forty-five minutes. On reaching town, if she stayed in her seat and paid another thirty paise, she could return home on the same bus. This meant that she could take the one-o’clock afternoon bus, reach the town at one forty-five, and be back home by about two forty-five…
On and on went her thoughts as she calculated and recalculated, planned and replanned.

Word meanings

Discreet questions- careful questions

II.

Well, one fine spring day the afternoon bus was just on the point of leaving the village and turning into the main highway when a small voice was heard shouting: “Stop the bus! Stop the bus!” And a tiny hand was raised commandingly

The bus slowed down to a crawl, and the conductor, sticking his head out the door, said, “Hurry then! Tell whoever it is to come quickly.” “It’s me,” shouted Valli. “I’m the one who has to get on.” By now the bus had come to a stop, and the conductor said, “Oh, really! You don’t say so!” “Yes, I simply have to go to town,” said Valli, still standing outside the bus, “and here’s my money.” She showed him some coins. “Okay, okay, but first you must get on the bus,” said the conductor, and he stretched out a hand to help her up. “Never mind,” she said, “I can get on by myself. You don’t have to help me.”

The conductor was a jolly sort, fond of joking. “Oh, please don’t be angry with me, my fine madam,” he said. “Here, have a seat right up there in front. Everybody move aside please — make way for madam.” It was the slack time of day, and there were only six or seven passengers on the bus. They were all looking at Valli and laughing with the conductor. Valli was overcome with shyness. Avoiding everyone’s eyes, she walked quickly to an empty seat and sat down
Slack time-a time when there is not much work

“May we start now, madam?” the conductor asked, smiling. Then he blew his whistle twice, and the bus moved forward with a roar. It was a new bus, its outside painted a gleaming white with some green stripes along the sides. Inside, the overhead bars shone like silver. Directly in front of Valli, above the windshield, there was a beautiful clock. The seats were soft and luxurious.

.Valli devoured everything with her eyes. But when she started to look outside, she found her view cut off by a canvas blind that covered the lower part of her window. So she stood up on the seat and peered over the blind. (She was not able to see out of the window fully as the half window was covered with a canvas so she stood up on the seat)

Word meanings

Devoured- read quickly and eagerly (here)
Canvas- a coarse fabric
Blind- a partition

The bus was now going along the bank of a canal. The road was very narrow. On one side there was the canal and, beyond it, palm trees, grassland, distant mountains, and the blue, blue sky. On the other side was a deep ditch and then acres and acres of green fields — green, green, green, as far as the eye could see.

Oh, it was all so wonderful! Suddenly she was startled by a voice. “Listen, child,” said the voice, “you shouldn’t stand like that. Sit down.” Sitting down, she looked to see who had spoken. It was an elderly man who had honestly been concerned for her, but she was annoyed by his attention.

Oh, it was all so wonderful! Suddenly she was startled by a voice. “Listen, child,” said the voice, “you shouldn’t stand like that. Sit down.” Sitting down, she looked to see who had spoken. It was an elderly man who had honestly been concerned for her, but she was annoyed by his attention.

There’s nobody here who’s a child,” she said haughtily. “I’ve paid my thirty paise like everyone else.” The conductor chimed in. “Oh, sir, but this is a very grown-up madam. Do you think a mere girl could pay her own fare and travel to the city all alone?” Valli shot an angry glance at the conductor and said, “I am not a madam. Please remember that. And you’ve not yet given me my ticket.” “I’ll remember,” the conductor said, mimicking her tone. Everyone laughed, and gradually Valli too joined in the laughter. The conductor punched a ticket and handed it to her. “Just sit back and make yourself comfortable. Why should you stand when you’ve paid for a seat?” “Because I want to,” she answered, standing up again.

Haughtily- proudly

“But if you stand on the seat, you may fall and hurt yourself when the bus makes a sharp turn or hits a bump. That’s why we want you to sit down, child.” “I’m not a child, I tell you,” she said irritably. “I’m eight years old.” “Of course, of course. How stupid of me! Eight years — my!” The bus stopped, some new passengers got on, and the conductor got busy for a time. Afraid of losing her seat, Valli finally sat down. An elderly woman came and sat beside her. “Are you all alone, dear?” she asked Valli as the bus started again. Valli found the woman absolutely repulsive — such big holes she had in her ear lobes, and such ugly earrings in them! And she could smell the betel nut the woman was chewing and see the betel juice that was threatening to spill over her lips at any moment. Ugh! — who could be sociable with such a person?

Word meanings

Repulsive- causing strong dislike

“Yes, I’m travelling alone,” she answered curtly. “And I’ve got a ticket too.” “Yes, she’s on her way to town,” said the conductor. “With a thirty-paise ticket.” “Oh, why don’t you mind your own business,” said Valli. But she laughed all the same, and the conductor laughed too. But the old woman went on with her drivel. “Is it proper for such a young person to travel alone? Do you know exactly where you’re going in town? What’s the street? What’s the house number?” “You needn’t bother about me. I can take care of myself,” Valli said, turning her face towards the window and staring out.

Word meaning

Curtly- rudely brief or abrupt
Drivel- silly nonsense

III.

Her first journey — what careful, painstaking, elaborate plans she had had to make for it! She had thriftily saved whatever stray coins came her way, resisting every temptation to buy peppermints, toys, balloons, and the like, and finally she had saved a total of sixty paise. How difficult it had been, particularly that day at the village fair, but she had resolutely stifled a strong desire to ride the merry go-round, even though she had the money.

Word meanings

Thriftily- spend money carefully
Resolutely stifled- suppressed/ controlled with determination

After she had enough money saved, her next problem was how to slip out of the house without her mother’s knowledge. But she managed this without too much difficulty. Every day after lunch her mother would nap from about one to four or so. Valli always used these hours for her ‘excursions’ as she stood looking from the doorway of her house or sometimes even ventured out into the village; today, these same hours could be used for her first excursion outside the village.

Word meanings

Ventured out- went cautiously, courageously

The bus rolled on now cutting across a bare landscape, now rushing through a tiny hamlet or past an odd wayside shop. Sometimes the bus seemed on the point of gobbling up another vehicle that was coming towards them or a pedestrian crossing the road. But lo! somehow it passed on smoothly, leaving all obstacles safely behind. Trees came running towards them but then stopped as the bus reached them and simply stood there helpless for a moment by the side of the road before rushing away in the other direction. ( it seemed that tree are faster coming towards them but when the bus reached there they looked stopped  and as the bus moved on they began to look as if they are moving in opposite direction)

Word meanings

Hamlet: a small settlement with a few houses.
Gobbling up: to swallow or eat hastily

Suddenly Valli clapped her hands with glee. A young cow, tail high in the air, was running very fast, right in the middle of the road, right in front of the bus. The bus slowed to a crawl, and the driver sounded his horn loudly again and again. But the more he honked, the more frightened the animal became and the faster it galloped — always right in front of the bus.

Word meanings

Glee- happiness and joy

Somehow this was very funny to Valli. She laughed and laughed until there were tears in her eyes. “Hey, lady, haven’t you laughed enough?” called, the conductor. “Better save some for tomorrow.” At last the cow moved off the road. And soon the bus came to a railroad crossing. A speck of a train could be seen in the distance, growing bigger and bigger as it drew near. Then it rushed past the crossing gate with a tremendous roar and rattle, shaking the bus. Then the bus went on and passed the train station. From there it traversed a busy, well-laid-out shopping street and, turning, entered a wider thoroughfare. Such big, bright-looking shops! What glittering displays of clothes and other merchandise! Such big crowds! Struck dumb with wonder, Valli gaped at everything.

Word meanings

Thoroughfare- a busy public road
Merchandise- things  for sale
Railroad crossing- an intersection where a railway line crosses a road or path

Then the bus stopped and everyone got off except Valli.  “Hey, lady,” said the conductor, “aren’t you ready to get off? This is as far as your thirty paise takes you.” “No,” Valli said, “I’m going back on this same bus.” She took another thirty paise from her pocket and handed the coins to the conductor. “Why, is something the matter?” “No, nothing’s the matter. I just felt like having a bus ride, that’s all.” “Don’t you want to have a look at the sights, now that you’re here?” “All by myself? Oh, I’d be much too afraid.” Greatly amused by the girl’s way of speaking, the conductor said, “But you weren’t afraid to come in the bus.” “Nothing to be afraid of about that,” she answered.

“Well, then, why not go to that stall over there and have something to drink? Nothing to be afraid of about that either.” “Oh, no, I couldn’t do that.” “Well, then, let me bring you a cold drink.” “No, I don’t have enough money. Just give me my ticket, that’s all.” “It’ll be my treat and not cost you anything.” “No, no,” she said firmly, “please, no.” The conductor shrugged, and they waited until it was time for the bus to begin the return journey. Again, there weren’t many passengers.
Won’t your mother be looking for you?” the conductor asked when he gave the girl her ticket. “No, no one will be looking for me,” she said.

The bus started, and again there were the same wonderful sights. Valli wasn’t bored in the slightest and greeted everything with the same excitement she’d felt the first time. But suddenly she saw a young cow lying dead by the roadside, just where it had been struck by some fast-moving vehicle. “Isn’t that the same cow that ran in front of the bus on our trip to town?” she asked the conductor. The conductor nodded, and she was overcome with sadness. What had been a lovable, beautiful creature just a little while ago had now suddenly lost its charm and its life and looked so horrible, so frightening as it lay there, legs spreadeagled, a fixed stare in its

lifeless eyes, blood all over…

Word meanings

Spreadeagled- spread out

The bus moved on. The memory of the dead cow haunted her, dampening her enthusiasm (she became joyless at the sight of dead cow and kept thinking about it instead looking out of the window). She no longer wanted to look out the window. She sat thus, glued to her seat (kept sitting on her seat) until the bus reached her village at three forty. She stood up and stretched herself. Then she turned to the conductor and said, “Well, sir, 1 hope to see you again.” “Okay, madam,” he answered her, smiling. “Whenever you feel like a bus ride, come and join us. And don’t forget to bring your fare.” She laughed and jumped down from the bus. Then away she went, running straight for home.

Word meaning

Haunted- returned repeatedly to her mind; was impossible to forget

.When she entered her house, she found her mother awake and talking to one of Valli’s aunts, the one from South Street. This aunt was a real chatterbox, never closing her mouth once she started talking. “And where have you been?” said her aunt when Valli came in. She spoke very casually, not expecting a reply. So Valli just smiled, and her mother and aunt went on with their conversation.

“Yes, you’re right,” her mother said. “So many things in our midst and in the world outside. How can we possibly know about everything? And even when we do know about something, we often can’t understand it completely, can we?” “Oh, yes!” breathed Valli. “What?” asked her mother. “What’s that you say?” “Oh,” said Valli, “I was just agreeing with what you said about things happening without our knowledge.” “Just a chit of a girl, she is,” said her aunt, “and yet look how she pokes her nose into our conversation, just as though she were a grown lady.” Valli smiled to herself. She didn’t want them to understand her smile. But, then, there wasn’t much chance of that, was there?

Word meanings

Pokes her nose- takes an interest in something that doesn’t concern her

Madam Rides the Bus Question Answers

1. What was Valli’s favourite pastime?

Answer. Valli’s favourite pastime was to gaze at the hustle and bustle of the street.

2. What was a source of unending joy for Valli? What was her strongest desire?

Answer. The arrival and departure of bus with cheerful passengers getting off and on was the most joyful sight for Valli.  Her strongest desire was to travel in the bus and take a ride to the nearby town and back.

3. What did Valli find out about the bus journey? How did she find out these details?

Answer.  Valli found that it would take 30 paise and 45 minutes for one way bus ride from her village to the nearest town.  She got these  details by listening to the conversations of her neighbors.

4. What do you think Valli was planning to do?

Answer. Valli was planning secretively to fulfill her desire of travelling by bus without her mother noticing.

5. Why does the conductor call Valli ‘madam’?

Answer. Valli was behaving like a mature girl and got annoyed when someone called her child. The conductor was a jovial person the behave of  Valli seemed funny to him so her started calling her ‘madam ‘ in a light  tone.

6. Why does Valli stand up on the seat? What does she see now?

Answer. Since Valli was not able to reach the top of window being short in height , she tried looking out of the window, the window blinds would come her way obstructing her outside view. Thus, she decided to stand on her seat. She saw that the bus was moving on a very narrow road. It had a canal on one side, beyond which palm trees, mountains and blue sky could be seen. On the other side, there was a deep ditch followed by greenery as far as one could see.

7. What does Valli tell the elderly man when he calls her a child?

Answer. When elderly man calls her a child, Valli got irritated and told him that she was not a child and she could take care of herself. She told him that she was just as capable and responsible like other passengers as she had paid the fare of thirty paise for the ticket.

8. Why didn’t Valli want to make friends with the elderly woman?

Answer.  The elderly woman had strange looks . she had large holes in her earlobes with ugly earrings that Valli developed strong dislike for. The lady was chewing betel nut and it’s juice seemed to come out at any moment, automatically making her a less socially desirable person according to Valli.

9. How did Valli save up money for her first journey? Was it easy for her?

Answer. She resisted all her sudden desire and little wish and temptation of peppermints, toys, balloons to merry-go-round at the village fair. After so many efforts, she finally saved sixty paise. No, it was not easy for her.

10. What did Valli see on her way that made her laugh?

Answer. Valli saw a cow that was running along the road and came in front of the bus. As the driver honked, it started running in front of the bus. The more the driver blew the horn, faster did it run but did not get out of the way. This was funny for Valli and she kept on laughing till she had tears in her eyes.

11. Why didn’t she get off the bus at the bus station?

Answer. She was afraid of coming out of the bus. She didn’t want to look around her surroundings as she was alone. She just wanted to have return journey to her village.

12. Why didn’t Valli want to go to the stall and have a drink? What does this tell you about her?

Answer.  Valli was too afraid to get off the bus alone. Moreover, she didn’t have enough money to buy herself a drink. As she had to pay for her return bus ride, thus, she didn’t want to go  to the stall for a drink. This shows that Valli was a responsible and careful Moreover, she denied the treat offered by the conductor which showed that she was a mature child.

13. What was Valli’s deepest desire? Find the words and phrases in the story that tell you this.

Answer. Valli’s deepest desire was to travel by bus. Words and phrases like “the most fascinating thing of all” and  “source of unending joy” have been used to describe Valli’s deepest desire.

14. How did Valli plan her bus ride? What did she find out about the bus, and how did she save up the fare?

Answer. Once she decided to travel by bus, she started listening to her neighbour’s conversations about their bus rides very carefully. In the process, s

she would herself ask some careful questions here and there in order to enhance her knowledge about the journey. Valli found out that the town was six miles from the village and it cost thirty paise to travel one side. It took forty five minutes to reach town and the same bus could bring you back as well. She collected the money with utmost determination. She resisted every temptation ranging from peppermints, toys, balloons to merry-go-round at the village fair. After so many efforts, she finally saved sixty paise.