A snow squall warning is in effect for the next 16 hours. This will likely mean that roads will be closed, buses will be delayed, and kids will have an extension to their Christmas vacation. I'm watching the forecast more closely now that I'm a bus driver for Murphy Bus Lines. Years of being a homeschooling mama meant that I didn't much care if schools were closed. Stormy weather meant we'd load up the wood stove and hunker down on the couch to read great books. The kids would complain that we never got a day off, but their complaints fell on deaf ears. As long as my hubby was at home, I didn't much care if it rained or stormed. I care now. I'm concerned about getting down the lane to drive to town on time to do my circle check. I'm watching the snow flood the yard, wondering if I'll get a call early in the morning, delaying or cancelling the run. I'll have mixed feelings. Staying home an extra day just gives me more time to work on projects. I have plenty to do. I'm never bored. But driving the bus is fun! I was a bus driver in Milton back in the late 70's. Back then, we were permitted to take our own kids on the bus with us. I remember driving on school trips to the African Lion Safari, and the kids still talk about the time the monkey peed on the windshield! I drove for a few years, often as a spare driver, and enjoyed every bit of it. When our family expanded to 6 kids, I decided to forego the trip to get my license renewed. So what possessed me to become a bus driver again after over 25 years' hiatus? A flyer came in the mail. I thought to myself, "This is something I can do." We need the income. I like kids. I like driving. I especially like driving a big bus. Murphy Bus Lines sent me to Mitchell to be trained under Loralee. I liked her immediately. She's the same age as my eldest daughter, and she's full of spunk and humour. She has no problem pointing out errors, because she wants her drivers to succeed. I had no problem being corrected, so we got along famously. I got my license in November, but didn't start working until I got back from our trip to Europe in December. I worked one full week, and it was an adventure! I have a great run. Five in-town stops where I pick up groups of kids, then one country stop. Two schools. Sixty-three kids. I'm fortunate to have taken over from a wonderful driver named Kathy, whom the children obviously loved. She set a certain standard for the bus, and the kids all know the rules. Three "bad kids" (their words) sit at the front of the bus, which I'm told solved a lot of problems. I'm trying to memorize all their names, but it will take me some time. It's so much fun to watch the little ones, clad in snowsuits and carrying backpacks, trying to climb the steps. It's like climbing Mount Everest for some of them. You can tell when kids are loved and cared for and trained to be polite and respectful. Those kids say "Thank you for the ride" as they leave the bus. Those kids are clean and have matching mitts and sunny smiles and happy faces. You notice other things, too. One little girl is a bit of a sneak. She thinks I don't notice when she breaks the rules, pushing the boundaries to see if I'll run a tight ship. I'm watching and biding my time. I want them to feel as comfortable with me as they did with Kathy before me. On the last day of school before the Christmas break, one little girl asked me, "When is Kathy coming back?" I told her she wasn't returning. Her face fell. I felt so bad for her. Change is hard for kids, but they're resilient. They'll adapt. I think that in time they'll discover that I'm a good driver who cares very much for them. I wrote them a wee poem: Remember when you ride the bus Never make a great big fuss! Keep the aisle free of debris To let the driver clearly see. Talk to your friends, stay in your seat, Don’t have stuff to drink or eat. Use the garbage and “lost and found” – We want to keep you safe and sound. So we do.
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January 2020
AuthorJanet Matthews Roth loves words. Categories |