That evening, the three friends decided to take the community bus into town for an ice cream treat. The bus was late—very late. So the ladies sat together on an old bench at the stop, idly chatting about the weather, grandkids, and whether or not Bingo night had been rigged last week.

As the sun dipped lower, the wait started to feel endless. Mildred fanned herself with an old magazine while Ethel leaned forward, rubbing her knees.

Suddenly, Ethel turned to Mabel and groaned, “You know, Mabel, I’ve been sitting here so long, my butt fell asleep.”

Mabel, without missing a beat, turned to her with a completely straight face and said, “I know, Ethel! I heard it snoring!”

The three burst out laughing so hard that Mildred nearly dropped her purse, and a nearby teenager jumped back, startled by the noise. A passing stranger glanced at the trio, shaking his head and muttering, “Old age sure looks like fun.”

Mildred wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. “Ethel, Mabel, we don’t need a bus! We’re already the ride everyone’s watching!”

The bus finally pulled up just as their giggles were dying down, but it didn’t matter. For these three old friends, the real joy was never in the destination—it was in the stories, the laughter, and all the little adventures that happened along the way.

As the bus driver greeted them, Mabel leaned in and whispered to him with a wink, “Careful, driver. Ethel’s butt might snore all the way to town.”

And with that, the bus rumbled down the road, leaving behind a bench that would never again witness so much life, laughter, and charm in one afternoon.

Moral of the Story:
Old friends, good humor, and shared memories are the true treasures of life—no matter how long you’ve been sitting around waiting for the bus.