By: Brenda Wilkerson
“Here you go, this is for you.” This sweet voice came from my 1st-grade rider ready to exit at her stop. Nestled in her 6-year-young palm of her little hand, was a brand new necklace. I was confused at first, thinking it was something she found to be returned to the owner. There it was, a half of an ice cream heart with a tiny silver charm that read BFF. “See?” she said, proudly showing the other half of the ice cream heart necklace secured around her neck. She leaned forward to show me that the two pieces fit perfectly together. It took just a little while to register that this was the coveted double best friend necklace sold at the book fair in the school library only hours before. My brain swirled. “This is for me? You want me to have this?” She giggled and responded, “Yep!” It doesn’t happen often, but I was speechless. Of all the people in her little world to give her heart to, she chose her bus driver. To be honest, 99% of my mind wanted to refuse this gift and convince her to give it to a friend or her momma. But God impressed upon me how special the heart of the giver is, and who am I to deny her that right to follow her generosity? So, I hugged her tight, then looked her in her eyes and said, “Thank you so much! This means the world to me!” She beamed, turned, and disappeared down the four steep steps to her driveway.
Melted
As the kids were loading up after an exciting school day of creative costumes and painted pumpkins, I welcomed a sweet visitor to my captain’s chair. “Ms. Brenda?” My heart smiled. It was my ice cream heart BFF. I reached for my necklace to show her I was wearing it. “Yes?” She hesitated and looked at her feet. “Can I have my necklace back?” I immediately reached behind my neck to unclasp the hook. “Of course, sweetie, what’s going on? Are you okay?” Her eyes never left the floor as she explained that her momma was upset that she gave her necklace to me. Carefully probing a little further, it seems her mom demanded the necklace be returned because, you see, Momma declared herself as her daughter’s best friend, not the bus driver. I curled my pointer finger and tucked it up under her chin to lift her eyes to mine. “I am so thankful for you. I will always treasure the fact that you wanted me to have this.” I took her petite hand in mine and turned it palm up to drizzle the now priceless treasure into her nervous hand. “I’m not mad at you, and you are still just as special to me as you were yesterday.” My words didn’t seem to help much while she struggled to make a half smile and fought back tears. My heart shattered for her — absolutely to bits and pieces. When I slowed to stop and pulled my brake at her house, she again paused at my captain’s chair and gifted me the warmest and squeeziest six-year-old teddy bear hug ever in the whole wide world. “I love you so much,” I whispered in her ear. ”You mean the world to me!” Her eyes sparkled a bit and her familiar smile returned. Then, just like yesterday, she beamed, turned, and disappeared down the four steep steps to her driveway.
#onceuponaschoolbus5
#notjustabusdriver
By: Brenda Wilkerson
January 3, 2025
