How not to jump to conclusions, or ...

SHORT   FICTION
                                                       Quiet Traveler         by  Mike Goodold

A beautiful young woman boards a bus carrying a heavy black suitcase.  The bus is a tour bus returning from a day's outing at a nearby Casino along the Jersey shore.  Others aboard the bus whisper to one another guessing about what they imagine would be inside that suitcase.  A few older women remark about her not being present when the bus embarked earlier that morning.   Yet, some say she was.
As time passes those who are whispering imagine only the worst outcome about that suitcase content. 
    The quiet young traveler becomes alarmed when she is approached by several passengers who rudely inquire about what she is carrying in her suitcase. 
When she refuses to open her luggage for the rude strangers, they, all old white-haired women, dial 911 from one of their cell phones.
    The old women sneer at the quiet young traveler, and they surround her as if to prevent her from leaving the bus without revealing the content of her suitcase.
The quiet young traveler says nothing to her cruel, rude, accusers; she waits silently for the police to intervene.
    In a flash the police arrive in three cars, and six police officers rush into the bus inquiring about who it was that made the 911 call, and what the issue is.
None of the cruel passengers speak out in reply to the police officer's questions. 
The quiet young traveler speaks.
    "Officer." She says softly. "A few of my traveling companions made that call, but I know not why."  The police halt further progress for the traveling bus.  They insist that everyone fill out a three page complaint form, as the officers hand a set of complaint forms to everyone.
    The bus driver vigorously objects to this inconvenience.  While an officer tries to calm him, the driver pushes one of the responding officers.   Instantly, police officers become agitated, and one of them strikes the driver, knocking him unconscious.
The old women scream when they see blood shoot from under the scalp of the hapless bus driver.
    The police block everyone from exiting the bus, and in the push-and-shoving nine of the old women in the bus suffer cuts and bruises.
Old women are heard crying as the police restore order by insisting everyone take their seats and to complete their individual complaint forms.
    Most women object, exclaiming they have no knowledge of why the officers are here.  Other's cry out about how they will be late for evening appointments.
As this mayhem continues, the quiet young traveler completes her paperwork as it was handed to her upon the officer's arrival.
By now, each police officer controls a separate group of travelers so as not to have them overhear each other's conversations. 
    They announce forcefully, "OK ladies, this can all end as soon as we know why we are here, and who it was that called 911."
None of the old women reply to the officers, now believing they may be in trouble themselves.
The quiet young traveler waves to the senior police officer.                  
    As the cop approaches, she says, "Officer, I really must get this to my grandmother's house for cleaning.  Would you like to see the content of my suitcase?"
    "Yes, young lady, in view of what some others are saying, that will be necessary."
As the quiet young traveler opens her case, the closest officer to her turns away, holding his nose.  Other cops run to his side and all peer into a bag full of dirty diapers.
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