Big Jim

本刊資料

Mike was proud to wear the uniform of a bus driver. He felt good when he helped people. And he liked driving all around the town and the countryside. He wasnt a big man， but he was one of the best bus drivers in the city.

One day， Mike went to the bus station as usual. As always， he started his bus and drove along his usual way. For the first few stops， everything was normal. A few people got on the bus， Mike took their money and gave them their tickets. A few people got off the bus. Then， when Mike got to the bus stop on Elm Road， a huge man was waiting for the bus. The man was tall and his long arms were full of muscles. He stepped up onto the bus. He looked at Mike and said， “Im Big Jim. Big Jim doesnt pay.” Then he sat at the back of the bus. Mike was surprised about this， and he was also upset. But Jim was so big， Mike wasnt sure what to do.

The next day， Big Jim was again waiting at the Elm Road stop. Again， he got on the bus and said， “Big Jim doesnt pay.” It happened this way every day for several days. Mike continued to be unhappy about this situation. Jim could be dangerous. What would happen if Mike tried to make him pay？ Then Mike had an idea. He started going to the gym. He lifted weights. He took a class in boxing. He started running every day for exercise. After a few weeks， Mike had become very fit and strong. He felt confident （自信的）.

One day， Mike went to the bus station. As always， he started his bus and drove along his usual way. For the first few stops， everything was normal. A few people got on the bus. He took their money and gave them their tickets. A few people got off the bus. Then， when Mike got to the bus stop on Elm Road， there was Big Jim， waiting for the bus as usual. The big man got on the bus and， as always， said， “Big Jim doesnt pay.”

Mike was ready. He knew what to do. He stood up. He looked Big Jim in the eye. He said， “Why doesnt Big Jim pay？”

Big Jim had a surprised look on his face. Then he reached in his pocket， pulled out a small card， and said， “Because Big Jim has got a six-month bus pass.”

（本刊資料）