How a Bus Driver's Misunderstanding with Big John Led to an Unexpected Lesson on Assumptions

One fine day, a bus driver went to the bus garage, started his bus, and drove off along the route. No problems for the first few stops - a few people got on, a few got off, and things went generally well.

At the next stop, however, a big hulk of a guy got on. Six feet eight, built like a wrestler, arms hanging down to the ground. He glared at the driver and said, "Big John doesn't pay!" and sat down at the back. Did I mention that the driver was five feet three, thin, and basically meek? Well, he was. Naturally, he didn't argue with Big John, but he wasn't happy about it.

The next day the same thing happened - Big John got on again, made a show of refusing to pay, and sat down. And the next day, and the one after that, and so forth. This grated on the bus driver, who started losing sleep over the way Big John was taking advantage of him.

Finally, he could stand it no longer. He signed up for bodybuilding courses, karate, judo, and all that good stuff. By the end of the summer, he had become quite strong; what's more, he felt really good about himself.

So on the next Monday, when Big John once again got on the bus and said, "Big John doesn't pay!" the driver stood up, glared back at the passenger, and screamed, "And why not?"

With a surprised look on his face, Big John replied, "Big John has a bus pass."

Moral of the story:

Be sure there is a problem before working hard to solve it...

Thank you, Anu!

There can be another moral - like the bus driver was feeling good about himself after all that preparation - nothing in life goes to waste - so what if the situation did not require his working hard at his body, it did leave him feeling good. And it might prove useful sometime down the line. So, I feel one must keep doing something; everything will come in handy sometime in life!

Cheers,
Pallavi

Hello Anu and site members,

I'm still pondering what would have happened if his statement had been TRUE! i.e. the day after all that preparation... on a humorous note.

Regards,
umalme

Good moral to be understood. The driver's perception that the 'hulk' could be a troublesome guy and the subsequent illusion blinded him, forcing him to pursue bodybuilding, etc. Anyway, did the driver also benefit from the 'illusion'?

Bala