I’m taking a writing class for the first time since my college days. There are actual writing assignments, which aren’t graded but are peer reviewed. The first assignment was to write a short (600 word) crowd scene in which there is action and dialogue. I spent two days panicking about this assignment, drawing a complete blank and wondering why I ever thought I could write anything at all. Eventually an idea struggled its way through my wall of panic and I was able to submit something. Phew! It’s weird being “in school” again. Anyway, here it is for your perusal.
Martin and Beulah hopped on the crowded shuttle bus at Zion National Park at the last moment, squeezing their way toward the back where there was just enough room for the two of them to stand, holding onto some straps. The bus had barely gotten moving again when they heard a commotion somewhere near the front of the bus.
“I saw him! I saw Bigfoot!” shouted a woman they couldn’t see.
“Yeah, right,” said the man behind Martin. He was wearing a Disney shirt.
“Look! There!” she cried again.
Everyone had their phones out, trying to figure out which way to point them, just in case. A lot of jostling ensued, accompanied by excited voices as people tried to get closer to the windows.
“Did anyone see which way she was pointing?” said a large man not far from Beulah, swiveling his Nikon camera this way and that.
“Get that camera out of my face!” The woman next to him jabbed him in the shoulder with her finger.
“I thought I saw something moving just behind those trees,” offered up a fellow with a man bun, getting caught up in the moment.
“We wanna see Bigfoot!” whined a couple little kids farther up. “Bigfoot! Bigfoot!”
“How stupid can you get,” muttered Disney, “Bigfoot is not real. Everybody with half a brain knows that.”
Martin had decided to stay put, but he could see Beulah trying to edge her way forward, taking photos of the people, rather than looking out the windows.
Meanwhile, Nikon was determined to get his award-winning shot, pushing his way toward where he hoped the action was.
“Ouch, you stepped on my foot, you oaf!” Finger Jabber was really annoyed now.
“BIGFOOT! BIGFOOT!” the kids continued their chanting, while somebody, presumably their mother, was saying, “Let’s use our indoor voices, children. No need to shout.” This had no effect.
Man Bun was saying to anyone who would listen, “I read an interesting article about Sasquatch recently…” perhaps hoping to be established as an expert on the topic.
The bus driver tried to calm the crowd down by speaking into the PA system. “Folks, you’re going to have to stay in your seats or stay standing where you are. We’ll be at the first stop in just a few minutes.” This also had no effect.
Martin caught a glimpse of Beulah looking absolutely delighted with the whole chaotic scene.
Disney kept grumbling, mostly inaudibly, but Martin heard the word “Idiots,” a few times, accompanied by a shaking of his head.
Almost everyone was looking out a window on either side of the bus by now, with much finger pointing and photo taking going on. Half a dozen people could be heard to say that they were sure they’d gotten a photo of something that could have been Bigfoot.
At last the bus driver pulled over to the first stop, calling out “Court of the Patriarchs!” The last time Martin and Beulah had visited Zion, nobody had gotten out at this stop except them, making them feel like chumps. This time, however, almost everybody got off, still excitedly talking about which way they’d need to go to find their quarry. Nikon appeared to be in the lead. As the bus doors closed, Martin and Beulah could still hear “BIGFOOT! BIGFOOT!” To Martin’s surprise, even Disney was out there following the crowd.
Martin and Beulah sat down in the empty bus, Beulah with a happy sigh. “I don’t think our vacation experience can get much better than that,” she said. “Want to see my photos?”
Yes, he did.
I’ll probably be deleting this Blogfoot in the morning.
Lynniebeemuseoday 
that was fun to read. Good job! You do have an imagination!!
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