The Missed Bus
Listen To The Following Reading
Elise and Nora usually rode the same bus to campus. That morning, they agreed to meet at the stop at 7:30 sharp. Elise arrived on time, but Nora didn’t show up. She waited through two buses, growing frustrated, before deciding to ride alone. When she finally sat down, she noticed Nora’s seat was empty again.
That afternoon, Elise told her classmate,
“She totally blew me off. I waited around for twenty minutes, and she never texted. I’m trying not to make a big deal out of it, but this isn’t the first time. I counted on her, and she just disappeared. It’s hard not to feel like she takes my time for granted.”
Later that evening, Nora explained to her older brother,
“My alarm didn’t go off, and by the time I woke up, the bus had already pulled away. I tried to catch up, but I was too far behind. I know it looks bad, but I didn’t just ignore her. I hate that she probably thinks I left her hanging—I just had one of those mornings where everything went wrong.”
Discussion Prompts
Explain what Elise was feeling after waiting for Nora.
What did Elise mean when she said:
blew me off
waited around
make a big deal out of it
counted on
Explain what Nora was feeling after missing the bus.
What did Nora mean when she said:
pulled away
catch up
looks bad
left her hanging
What do their words show about how misunderstandings can damage trust and routine between friends?
