The Bus Trip To Osprey
	Mrs. Griffis was the woman who lived directly across from our house on Ellicott Street. It was from her childhood stories that I first heard about the barefoot mailman coming by their little farm in Osprey, Florida, making his way through Sarasota, and eventually down to Miami, carrying the mail on his back along the shoreline. Mrs, Griffis's son, Clifford, was Andy's and my best friend. He was also the "driver" of the "Invisible Car," from a previous story. His older sister by a few years, Becky, would later become the owner of the house hosting the gala party in "A Very Jolly Night," also a previous story. When Becky and Clifford were about eight and ten years old they took a bus trip south to visit their mother's relatives in Osprey. It wasn't a very long trip and back then it was safe for children of that age to travel without supervision. The bus driver was watching them and they had their little lunches in a brown paper bag. All they had to do was sit there. Late that afternoon Mrs. Griffis's sister called her and said, "The young'ns weren't at the bus station!" She was in a panic. Everyone was. I was only about five but I remember the neighborhood being distraught. The police were called. Grandma Davis, who was the oldest person I've ever known, said, "We've got to pray!" She was looking nose to nose into the police officer's face but she was addressing it to everyone in general. Afternoon wore on to late afternoon. Nothing. The authorities of the bus line started checking their schedules and stops. I think the bus driver finally remembered two children fitting their description getting off the bus. "But they didn't get off in Osprey. They got off in Sarasota." The bus authorities and the police in Sarasota were made aware of the situation. When they checked the Sarasota bus station, there the children were sitting on a bench, side by side, holding hands, just waiting for someone to come find them. Their Aunt Molly asked Becky, "Honey, how in the world did you two end up in Sarasota? Did you go to sleep and miss your stop?" "No ma'am, I didn't want the people to know we were getting off at a place called Osprey." Lash Out Loud