Kids on a Bus

Stuck in traffic in Kochi when a very modern (for India) bus pulls along
side....
I look up and see a beautiful young girl with an artificial yellow flower
in her hair staring down at me sitting in my car. I wave, she smiles and
waves, I pull out my camera and make believe I'm taking her photo. Her smile
becomes brighter, her eyes light up, she laughs, she starts talking
excitedly to others on the bus. The windows start to fill with bright young faces
with such beautiful smiles and hands waving. I start snapping photos, more faces appear.
They are talking to each other. I ask where they are from, they say a word that has at least
6 syllables I don't quite catch. They ask me where I'm from, I tell them and they repeat the
name without it having any meaning to them. Just sounds.

I turn around to look at the windows that are behind me. There are older
boys staring at me. I smile, they start smiling and waving. I take more
photos. The eyes light up and the smiles are sincere. I say while pointing
at their bus 'nice bus!!' Now I see smiles that are proud. We are all
laughing.

The traffic moves. I'm thankful for this gift I've just received.