On the way home from school earlier this week, Alayna asked when she would be old enough to ride a school bus. I explained to her that I didn't like her riding with people I didn't know. Then, I told her the story about me driving a bus just so mommy and Uncle Bubby would be taken care of in a proper way. Of course, I left out the part of Brian's bus driver (his mommy) leaving him at school the first day of kindergarten - she didn't need to be scared!!! I also didn't tell her that I totalled a brand new bus on the 2nd day of Brian's kindergarten school year. Brian had a rough start to his school life. Of course, the bus accident wasn't my fault - it was the guy behind me bending down to answer her cell phone (OK car phone) and hit me going about 50 MPH.
Anyway...back to Alayna. I thought about it and decided to ask Kristi about it. We talked and decided that I would leave early on Thursday and meet the bus driver (after calling the bus barn and getting the entire life history of the driver). I met him at the school and proceeded to give him one heck of a riot act. I told him where she would be allowed to sit, how he was going to get to drive way, that she would not be crossing in front of the bus, when "I" expected her home, what to do if he was going to be delayed, etc. In other words, I told him how to do his job while my granddaughter is in his care. I am sure that he didn't know how to take this. After I was satisfied that I had scared the crap out of him I went into the school and got Alayna.
I explained to her that we were going to meet the bus driver and she could decide if she wanted to ride or not. I told her that she didn't have to ride, but it was available. She was excited and scared. Walking out to meet the driver, she was shaking holding my hand. She told him that she knew where she lived and would help him find her house. She said that she didn't want to ride. I told her that we would wait in line just like she would do if she was riding and walk to the bus so she could see what it would be like. While standing in line she had a death grip on my hand and was shaking. I told her it would be OK, I would not make her ride we were just going to see what it was like to walk to the bus.
We headed out to the bus and there are only like 10 kids who ride the bus, but one little boy took her hand and said "Is this your first time riding a bus?" And Alayna of course answered "yes" in which he responded "I will help you, it is not bad, what is your name?" After talking to him for a minute, she let go of my hand and turned around and said "Bye Grandma, I will be fine."
I just smiled and started walking to my van, stopping once to turn around to make sure she wasn't looking for me but, that was not the case. I almost went back to the bus and took her off - Grandma was scared now!
I raced home and told Oma "I did it, I put Alayna on a school bus." She just smiled, knowing that it was me that needed to let go, not Kristi. Grandma the protector. I grabbed the camera and ball bat and headed down the driveway, only to get half-way down to find out that Tom had removed both memory cards from the camera and I had to go back to the house. I took off back down the drive way, minus the bat (just in case the driver didn't live up to my expectations). I heard the bus about a half-mile away, I know that sound. He waved as he drove by, per my instructions and turned around. I thought he was driving a tad too fast and told him that when he stopped.
Alayna was smiling when she got off. She was happy, She conquered another milestone in her childhood. Now, if I can only keep her young and innocent. I dread the teen years - I need to move to another country before then so Kristi can pay in full for her raising. She has a LARGE bill that needs to be collected on. Good luck Kristi!!!!!!
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