The End

Summer break is finally here, and I'm sitting at my computer -- instead of on a bus -- thinking about what happened on Friday, the last day of school.

I was driving my route as usual -- picking up this kid, turning around, putting on my flashers, picking up that kid -- when I stopped at Little Emily's house. Now, Little Emily is a cute little kindergartner who loves to sing nonsensical tunes that drive me almost bonkers. Sometimes I let her sing until she gets it out of her system, and sometimes I cut her off at the first hum. But Little Emily did something different on Friday. When she got on the bus, she handed me an envelope.

I took a quick look at the envelope and on the front it said, "To Mr. Bus Driver." It was in her parent's handwriting. I put the envelope on my dash, knowing I'd have more time to read what was inside when I got back to school, and went on with my route. But I just knew what was inside that envelope -- it was going to be a letter from the parents saying , "If you ever yada yada yada again, I'll call your supervisor and yada yada yada!" (Of course the yadas would mean something unpleasant, but you get my meaning.)

Anyways, when I got back to the school and parked my bus, I opened up the envelope and found....

A Certificate. An Outstanding Bus Driver certificate. Not just Great. Not just Fantastic. But OUTSTANDING! Along with a gift card to Subway Sandwiches.

OUTSTANDING!

That afternoon, when Little Emily got on the bus, I gave her a big hug and thanked her for the Certificate and gift card.

"What are you talking about, Mr. Bus Driver?"

"You know, the envelope you gave me this morning."

"Oh, that," she said. "That was my parent's idea. I'm still mad at you 'cause you don't like my singing. They made me give it to you."

Little Emily took her seat, I took mine, and I drove everybody home for the last time this year. And what happened when I got to Little Emily's house? She said, "Have a good summer," and then she waved at me as I drove off.

OUTSTANDING!