CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | Contact
The circle of life continues today, as a once flippant little brat transforms into a cranky older citizen.
This caterpillar to butterfly moment was captured on the packed aisle of Betoota’s infamous L50 bus into town.
The L50, also known as the Hell 50, transports commuters along one of the busiest roads in the Diamantina Shire, from the rural outskirts of Betoota Downs, to Betoota’s light industrial Flight Path District, through the cosmopolitan French Quarter, and then directly into the heart of the CBD.
It’s the only transport option for multiple business parks, high schools, cultural precincts and sporting venues.
There have been generations of Betootans who have ridden the Hell 50 from their primary school days right through to their retirement from working life in the city.
Tyler Duncombe is one of these commuters.
At 29-years-of-age, he’s been riding this packed bus for two decades.
And now, as an elder statesman of the Hell 50, it is upon him to instil some manners in these insolent little cunts playing on their phones in the Priority Seating Area.
Today’s morning commute has been defined by the fact that several old ladies have been forced to stand, as the teenage boys up the front appear to have been raised poorly.
With the bus driver distracted by the frustrations of peak hour traffic, and a bus full of apathetic NPCs who won’t speak up about this clear violation of Australian etiquette, Tyler feels himself slip into the red mist of rage.
This is when Tyler becomes a grown up, where he takes it upon himself to rouse on young kids for something he was definitely roused on for at their age. He’s passing the torch of cranky Australian chivalry.
But he must be an adult about this.
Knowing full well that he can’t use swear words in front of the grannies, Tyler has to find a way to put the fear of God into these little fucks without becoming the villain himself.
He takes a deep breathe and pipes up.
“Jeez these kids have no manners these days!” he says, to nobody in particular.
Their headphones are in, they don’t hear him.
He gets closer and enters their personal space. He gets lower. Low enough for the grannies to not hear. He’s not trying to be a hero. He’s a model citizen. Tyler doesn’t need the praise that comes from instilling a bit of manners into the youth. He just wants the grannies to have a seat.
The kids take out their headphones and look up with fright.
“Get the fuck up you stupid little cunts.” he whispers, while nodding at the old ladies.
“I won’t fucken ask you again”
