Long bus rides arelike televisions shows.They have a beginning,a middle,and an end一with commercials
thrown in everythree or four minutes.The commercials are unavoidable.They happen whether youwant
them or not.Everycouple of minutes a billboard glides by outside the bus window."Buy SuperClean
Toothpaste.""DrinkGood'n'Wet Root Beer.""Fill up with Pacific Gas."Only if yousleep,which is
equal to turning thetelevision set off,are you spared the unending cry of"You Need It!Buy ItNow!"
The beginning of theride is comfortable and somewhat exciting,even if you've traveled that way
before.Usually somethings have changed一newhouses,new buildings,sometimes even a new road.The
bus driver has astyle of driving and it's fun to try to figure it out the first hour or so.Ifthe driver is particu-
larly reckless ordaring,the ride can be as thrilling as a suspense story.Will the driver passthe truck in
time?Will the drivermove into the right or the left-hand?After a while,of course.the excitementdies
down.Sleeping for awhile helps pass the middle hours of the ride.Food always makes bus rides more
interesting.Butyou've got to be careful of what kind of food you eat.Too much salty food canmake you
very thirsty betweenstops.
The end of the rideis somewhat like the beginning.You know it will soon be over and there's a kindof
expectation andexcitement in that.The seat,of course,has become harder as the hours havepassed.By
now you've sat withyour legs crossed,with your hands in your lap,with your hands on the arm rests一even
with your handscrossed behind your head.The end comes just at the right time.There are just nomore
ways to sit.
A.Buses on the road.
B.Films ontelevision.
C.Advertisements onthe board.
D.Gas stations.