THE SCHOOL BUS
Penny for Your Thoughts By: Nancy Whitaker
Living in the country we rode the big yellow school bus to school. I was about the luckiest girl on the route because I was the first one on the bus, but the last one off. At least I got to see where everyone lived and I knew exactly where the bus route was going to go.
When we lived over by Middle Point, there was a big long lane I had to walk to get up to the road to catch the bus. When the snow and cold came we did not cancel school, but bundled up in heavy coats, boots, gloves and hats.
I remember being very little, but knew how to tell the big guys they could not sit by me. I guess I was rude but teasing me was normal when I was in Grade School. Then we moved from the Middle Point house to one over by Grover Hill. My school bus driver was Ezra Rager, a very friendly nice bus driver.
My grandma made these huge sugar cookies and many times I treated Ezra to a cookie. One day it was sort of a chilly day and Spring wasn’t there yet. Mom told me to wear a sweater and I thought I would pull a fast one and sneak off without it. Well how embarrassing. My mom was waiting when I got off the bus with her trusty little ping pong paddle and gave me a spanking. Yes they spanked back in those days.
What did we do on the school bus? We chatted, ate something if we had any packed lunch left over and discussed who played the best game of Jacks at recess. I remember someone puking on the bus and I was glad it wasn’t on me. We were lucky to be able to ride the school bus, because I have heard stories of my grandma and mom having to walk over a mile whether cold or hot to get to school.
It was always fun riding the bus because I looked at all the kids who got new white bucks or saddle shoes. Then it was fun when all of us gals wore poodle skirts with can-cans under them and took up the biggest part of the seat when you got on the bus with something new it was common to strut your stuff so everyone could see your new duds.
When it was hot on the bus we could put down windows for cool air and when cold you wore extra clothing.
Everything was fun even riding the long school bus ride. I never had a bus driver who hollered at us or kicked us off the bus. If we got in trouble on the bus, we would get in trouble at home.
Have you ever walked in the cold and snow for miles to get to school? Did you get to eat on the bus? Did you give your bus driver cookies? Let me know and I’ll give you a Penny For Your Thoughts!
