Bus Democracy

On our way back to P-town we usually take a Kingston-Mandeville bus and we usually get off about 20 minutes before the bus reaches Mandeville. The fare is $J250 and we have always paid $J250. On this occasion another gentlemen was getting off with us as well. Prior to exiting, he paid the "docta" (conductor) $500 and because we were getting off before Mandeville and thinking the fare was $200, he expected $300 in change. But the docta gave him $250. Of course an argument ensued between the docta and the gentlemen. The man wanting his additional $50 and arguing that the fare from Kingston to P-town has always been $200; the docta arguing he did not owe him anything because the fare is $250. Soon enough the rest of the passengers weighed in and everybody was yelling at the docta demanding him to give the man the $50. Eventually after several minutes of back and forth argument, the docta capitulated and gave the man the additional $50. It was great, the man got back $50, our fare was subsequently reduced to $200 and, as our friend Chris said, "it was a great demonstration in bus democracy."