Sometimes you never know. Others, you find out about later.

I have a little story. I'll try to tell it in an understandable way.

It actually started/happened August 18th.; The last day of the first week of the new school year. As some of you know, I'm a bus driver.

On this day I was doing my middle/high school route. I was dropping off a middle school girl and as she was getting off the bus, I noticed that she looked upset. I asked if she was "OK?" and she just shrugged her shoulders. I told her to have a great weekend and see you next week.

Well, as some of you know I had a kidney stone attack and missed some work. Anyway, that girl hasn't ridden the bus since that day. Well I have her younger elementary school brother on my route so I asked him about her.

He told me that she was afraid to ride the bus because she was bullied. I asked him where? He told me on the bus!

Man, I felt really bad! I never seen or heard anything, but I felt bad. I told him that his sister never said anything about it to me. He told me that she was afraid to say anything. I asked him if he knew who it was, and he said no.

I asked him if his sister was going to ride the bus again and he said that he didn't know. I told him to tell his mom and dad and sister that if she rides again I will make sure that it won't happen again, but she has to tell me.

This conversation happened August 29th., that Friday I went in for out patient surgery for my kidney stones. I was off until this Tuesday.

So, Friday I go to work and it is foggy. Like so thick that you can't see anything. I could only see at best 60-70' infront of the bus. The type of day you just wish that you stayed home! I'm on my elementary school route, which is before the middle/high school route.

Now mind you this route that I'm on is mostly rural roads, like in very twisty, hilly and no stripping of any kind. One lane kind of deal, I'm having a bad day, people driving in the dark mind you without headlights on in thick fog, can't see the edge of the road, you know all that fun.

So I get to the boy's house. He is the last stop before heading to school. He gets on and hands me a little envelope.

Well off to school we go. We get to school and are waiting for our time to unload. I have a little talk with the kiddos about them acting up alittle and they depart for their day of school.

I walk my bus after they disembark and I open up the little envelope.

I'm not expecting what I read. As I sat there reading this card for these kids mom, I started to cry a little. Yep, I'm not afraid to admit that.

In short, and leaving out any information that could identify the children it said.

Mr. ARman. This thank you is long over due. This year is the first that the kiddos have ever road the bus. You made "young man" feel welcome. He likes your rules....

You asked about "young lady" and asked that day if she was "OK?". That reminded her that there are caring people in this world. She has endured some pretty severe bulling and I think that God put you there for her that day.

"Young lady" will be riding the bus on "such and such date" please let me know what the time is.

"Young Man" said that you were gone for a while because "your kidneys fell out and he went to the hospital!" I prayed for you and I'm glad that you are back!

Please accept my heart felt thanks!


I just didn't know what to think, I had a tear in my eye the whole way from the elementary school to my first stop 14 miles away.

I finished my route and went into the office. I talked to the dispatcher, I told her the story and read the card to her. She cried.

The problem is. I'm a sub bus driver and that was my last day on that route. I hate the route because I don't like the anchor elementary school. Before I received that card I was relieved that it was my last day on it! Now not so much.

Besides not liking the anchor elementary school, it keeps me from doing field trips during the week because it is so long.

I asked the dispatcher if I could stay on this route for at least a couple of more weeks. She agreed.

Sometimes you never know.
You never know how and in what ways you touch people around you.

Sometimes you never know what is happening with the people around you. No matter how observant you are.

Sometimes you never know how the little things will touch people around you.

Sometimes you never know.

I'm lucky to have found out, and I'm humbled that a Mom is thankful that I was there. I'm humbled because I was just doing my job. Which I love but sometimes feel like it's thankless. I'm humbled that this Mom, that I have never met is not only thankful, but she prayed for me.

So, sometimes you never know, sometimes you find out.

I am still choked up about this. I have many emotions. I know one thing. I'm glad that I was there for "young lady", even though I didn't know I was.

Sometimes you never know.....



ARman

good for you.. one man can make a difference. Maybe you could talk to the regular driver and get him to look out for them!!!

You are a good man ARman.

You are a good man. God bless you and the kids on your route.

quote:

Originally posted by remsig:
You are a good man ARman.

Yep. The small things in life add up to big things. A simple show of empathy now could mean the world a few years down the road.

To the world, you may be one person. But to one person, you may be the world.

Thanks for sharing that story. It produced my first smile of the day. Im really glad you were there for Young Lady. And Im glad they were there for you. Awesome stuff.

Good work ARman. That is a tremendous responsibility being a bus driver of children. Now you have more people praying for you.

Good on you and blessings on you.

I can only imagine how alone that girl felt with her brother but you reaching out to them made all the difference.

You were the answer to their question that is often asked by people: "Does anyone care?"

As a parent I used to pray my younglings were cared for by people like you when they were out of my hands. You know, I still remember those gracious people who were kind to me when I was young. I think about them and pray for their well being. Thank you for being selfless enough to care for this youngling.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin101:
good for you.. one man can make a difference. Maybe you could talk to the regular driver and get him to look out for them!!!

The problem is there is no regular driver. We are short handed and this along with 9 other routes are open. All of the open Route drivers (sub bus driver) are being rotated out on a monthly basis, because some of the route that are open suck.

I talked to the dispatcher and when I do move to be able to talk to the next sub bus driver about this situation.

ARman

Great story. I'm glad there are folks like you that care. Much of why I like spending time here.

I'm glad that I Could share this story. I never knew that it was happening and I felt bad for her. I was a little angry at myself for not seeing it or knowing that it was going on.

Sure, as she was getting off the bus I saw that she was upset, sure I asked if she was "OK". But I do feel that I failed her in some way.

I left out some of the note, and some of it was funny. It was humbling also, because "young man" told his mom about "how great and cool" I am.

Sometimes you never know.

I have thought about this a few times last night and today, and the note still brings a tear to my eye.

Sometimes you never know.

I'm just doing my job and never realizing that what I was doing just being myself had such an effect on someone. Though I feel like I let"young lady" down, it was the opposite. I made her feel like some one cared.

Sometimes you never know. Sometimes you find out.

I know one thing, I'm hanging that little card up so I can see it every day, to remind myself that what you do has an impact on people around you. To remind me that some times it is the little things that we do that makes a big impact.

Because that little card sure did that for me! Not only was there that little card in that envelope, there was trust and appreciation for me just doing my job. Sometimes it does feel thankless.

Also, there was a gift card to a restaurant, and though it was nice, it is worthless compared to that card, that little card in that little envelope. Now that was pure gold.

ARman

I believe that "Life" has many things to teach us, and ironically, "Life", uses others to teach us (and we, each other), and a large part of that "teaching" is the expectation to share what we have learned.

Sometimes it is without reward, and often, it is met with derision, but each must endeavor to pass along what we have learned, for that is a catalyst for multiplied returns.

"Failure", only exists, when one chooses not to try.

Remember the honor. You earned it.

What a great read. You are a good man!

God bless you, ARman, and keep you!

Thanks for being more than "just another brick in the wall"

Thanks for the kind words, I don't know if I deserve it/them.

Everyday I go to work, even when I don't feel well, I always smile and greet the kiddos. As a sub bus driver, it is hard to build a relationship with the kiddos. When I had my route, I knew all the kids names and most of their parents.

I realize that I (as the school bus driver) am the first person they see in the kids school day/career. That I might be the only one that they can talk to. I try to be there as much as I can.

I always try not only to do my job safely, but I also try to make the bus ride as fun as I can. It hurts me that this middle School girl not only didn't enjoy the ride but didn't feel safe, and that is unacceptable to me!

That little card. Man, I think that it will become one of prized possessions.


ARman

ARman,

Please read my Signature line.

Outstanding job on your part.

Got bless you ARman. You are the boy slinging starfish: "It mattered to that one."