Base to Bus Two

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In Those days, I can't remember ever taking a bus to or from school. I guess we lived either close enough to walk or ride a bicycle. But I did ride a school bus a few times on a field trip or to a sports event.

Things are different today. Now I am a school bus driver, well actually a substitute drive for the time being. And I made my first route just the other day. I guess retired folks are constantly trying to find ways to enjoy the rest of this temporary life. Some turn to gardening, or wood working, or painting, and even golf. Not me... I wanted to be a school bus driver!

I was called to do the afternoon route. It's the one that you pick up the students at the schools and transport them home. It's different from the morning route because the stops are obvious when you see the kids waiting at the curb. And they are all sleepy and bummed that that have to go to school. So the sit quietly for the duration of the trip. It is almost easy.

Not so in the afternoon. Then, they are all fired up. About 80 of them. Can't wait to get home after being cooped up all day. They are loud. They are excited. They shout. Some fight and argue, and some try to talk to the driver as he tries to spot the next stop. And on top of that, you have your boss on the radio trying to iron out the kinks.

"Base to Bus Two. A parent reports that her child didn't get off at her designated stop. Do you still have Tina, a kindergarten student on board?" So, over the noise of the students, the traffic, and trying to spot the next drop site, I have to locate Tina. Well, she wasn't there. I didn't have any kindergartners. So the boss demands that I pull off and check rather than just making an announcement over the bus intercom, while looking in that huge rear view mirror.

So I did, and as the bus came to a stop, a kid screams, "Hey mister, my house is way back there!" So by then, I still had no Tina, but I did have another kid who's stop was a quarter mile back, and about 60 more that just wanted to get home.

Well, I survived. They survived. Tina was on Bus 9 like she was supposed to be, and the other kid had to wait until my route was finished before I returned to his stop.

Tough job, but some body has to do it. Support your local school bus driver.
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