This is one of my fondest memories of bus happenings I call it, "The Christmas dress."
The first time I met Gracie, she was a kindergartner, and she rode my bus for four years. Every year the classes would take turns doing the school Christmas programs, and this year it was the third grader's turn.
Gracie and I hit it off from the very beginning She always had a comment about a friend, or what would be eaten for lunch that day. If it was pizza she would tell me how much she loved pizza. If it was corn dogs, she would explain why she had sack that day. (She always called it sack.) If there wasn't a seat open within ear shot of Mr. Del (that's me) she would ask a student if they could move, because she had something important to tell Mr. Del. That went on until she became a third grader. She explained though. " I'm in third grade now, and have some new friends, so I'll sit with them further back in the bus." I told her that would be fine, but if she needed to tell me something to be sure and let me know.
She would come on the bus, and if she had sack, she would hold it up so I could see it; I would say "corn dogs", and she would smile. We had a way of talking about the important things of the day.
It was getting close to Christmas, and this day Gracie was the last one off of the bus, I figured something was up because she never was the last to leave. Here's how it went:
"Mr. Del did you notice my dress?" "Oh, that's a pretty dress! "It's my Christmas dress!" She unzipped her coat, and put it on the seat, then turned completely around. "Isn't it pretty, and so red!" "It's beautiful, and such a pretty red," I agreed. " Do you know why I have my red Christmas dress on today?" "No Gracie, I don't." "Well, today we are having our school Christmas programs, one at ten thirty, and one at one thirty. Well, I have to go!" Gracie put her coat on and went to school, and I had been invited to her school program, and she never said a word.
That day I had so much to do and a school Christmas program wasn't on the list, but the picture in my mind wouldn't go away. It's one twenty, and I still had so much to do, but the picture was still looming in my mind. I finally gave in, and went to the Christmas program.
As I was entering the school, the children were just going onto the stage, and Gracie was looking around to see who was there, back and forth over the audience. Finally she saw who she was looking for and she waved. I smiled and waved back. The program was starting to have a value, and it hadn't started yet. Gracie went to the lady in charge, and they talked a few seconds. Then the program began. When it was time for the third graders to perform, the teacher in charge had a announcement: "I've been informed we have a special guest today. Would Mr. Del, the bus driver, please stand? We appreciate you for taking the time to come to our program. Especially Gracie she said, 'I knew my Christmas dress would get to him!'"
Gracie works at a local deli during the summer, while home from college, and whenever I see her I remind her about the Christmas dress. She knew how to get things done, and never had to say a word!
The first time I met Gracie, she was a kindergartner, and she rode my bus for four years. Every year the classes would take turns doing the school Christmas programs, and this year it was the third grader's turn.
Gracie and I hit it off from the very beginning She always had a comment about a friend, or what would be eaten for lunch that day. If it was pizza she would tell me how much she loved pizza. If it was corn dogs, she would explain why she had sack that day. (She always called it sack.) If there wasn't a seat open within ear shot of Mr. Del (that's me) she would ask a student if they could move, because she had something important to tell Mr. Del. That went on until she became a third grader. She explained though. " I'm in third grade now, and have some new friends, so I'll sit with them further back in the bus." I told her that would be fine, but if she needed to tell me something to be sure and let me know.
She would come on the bus, and if she had sack, she would hold it up so I could see it; I would say "corn dogs", and she would smile. We had a way of talking about the important things of the day.
It was getting close to Christmas, and this day Gracie was the last one off of the bus, I figured something was up because she never was the last to leave. Here's how it went:
"Mr. Del did you notice my dress?" "Oh, that's a pretty dress! "It's my Christmas dress!" She unzipped her coat, and put it on the seat, then turned completely around. "Isn't it pretty, and so red!" "It's beautiful, and such a pretty red," I agreed. " Do you know why I have my red Christmas dress on today?" "No Gracie, I don't." "Well, today we are having our school Christmas programs, one at ten thirty, and one at one thirty. Well, I have to go!" Gracie put her coat on and went to school, and I had been invited to her school program, and she never said a word.
That day I had so much to do and a school Christmas program wasn't on the list, but the picture in my mind wouldn't go away. It's one twenty, and I still had so much to do, but the picture was still looming in my mind. I finally gave in, and went to the Christmas program.
As I was entering the school, the children were just going onto the stage, and Gracie was looking around to see who was there, back and forth over the audience. Finally she saw who she was looking for and she waved. I smiled and waved back. The program was starting to have a value, and it hadn't started yet. Gracie went to the lady in charge, and they talked a few seconds. Then the program began. When it was time for the third graders to perform, the teacher in charge had a announcement: "I've been informed we have a special guest today. Would Mr. Del, the bus driver, please stand? We appreciate you for taking the time to come to our program. Especially Gracie she said, 'I knew my Christmas dress would get to him!'"
Gracie works at a local deli during the summer, while home from college, and whenever I see her I remind her about the Christmas dress. She knew how to get things done, and never had to say a word!
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