Brave Boy
“Don’t do it,” his friend whispered, his eyes wide with fear.
But as they slid across the vinyl seat again, he knew that something was very wrong. Besides him, two girls held onto each other as tears streamed down their cheeks. Troy reached down and grabbed his bag. There was only one thing he could do.
Something Different
The children waited in line along the cracked sidewalks of Bonita Elementary. Bus doors swung open and it was officially the end of school.
Everyone chatted and laughed like it was any other day. But, as Troy got on and looked at the driver’s seat, he noticed something different.
Weird Smell
Their driver was usually a man, but this time there was an older woman.
She stared ahead, ignoring them and wearing a large frown. They had seen substitute drivers before, but as he passed by, he noticed a strange smell. Others noticed it too. They coughed and pinched their noses.
Weird Lady
Troy took his assigned seat near the back of the bus but kept an eye on the new driver.
It was the alertness that only a big brother could have – at least one with so many siblings. Her scraggly hair hung around her face and she grabbed the steering wheel with white knuckles.
Missed Stop
The first drop off went as normal. However, when the second one came around, the woman drove past.
The kid that was supposed to get off sat down and looked around him confused. By the fourth missed stop, every one of the thirty children shared the same look. What was going on?
Dangerous Swerving
The right side of the street grew closer in the window. Then the left. Then the right again.
Troy looked to the front and saw the woman swerving along the busy street. The uneasy feeling in his stomach crawled up into his throat. He tried to stand up, but his friend pulled him back down. “You’ll get in trouble.”
Sudden Stop
The surrounding cars honked their horns as the long yellow bus took up two lanes.
Then the momentum changed … hard. Things came to an abrupt stop. He felt his body flung forwards into the back of the seat and the rough material scrape his face. He heard the children around him crying.
Going Faster
The view out the window changed. The buildings and trees morphed into colored streaks as the bus sped up.
They clutched the seats as the bus tilted along the on-ramp. They were turning onto the highway. Every single face around him now held utter fear. The woman stared ahead with the same long frown, ignoring their panic.
Peer Pressure
Troy grabbed his bag. He remembered what his mother had taught him and he knew exactly what to do.
“Stop!” his friend said, “I don’t want to get in trouble!” Others around him gave the same warning. He felt the bus go faster. No, this was very, VERY wrong.
911 Call
He pulled out his phone and dialed 911. The calm responder asked what the emergency was.
He quickly gave the important details and looked around at the highway signs to find out where they were. It wasn’t long until they saw flashing lights and heard the wonderful sound of sirens.
Final Stop
Several police cruisers caught up with them, but the woman didn’t seem to notice.
It wasn’t until she was surrounded, and they heard angry instructions over a loudspeaker, did the bus finally slow down and stop … at another kid’s drop off. Officers ran towards the bus.
Driver Arrested
The first cop flung open the bus doors, took the stairs in one jump, and grabbed the dazed, scraggly woman.
The children heard the click of handcuffs, the scuffle of feet, and a slur of angry words they weren’t allowed to repeat. The smell disappeared as she was pulled out.
Illegal Substances
The kids might not have heard the final story, but the parents certainly did – and they were all furious.
It turns out the regular driver didn’t show up for work. Karolyn Denise Ray was the substitute called in through a subcontractor … and she had been on illicit drugs. Her punishment?
New Company
A charge of “driving under the influence of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of children,” CBS Sacramento reported.
The school district has also looked into other options for a new bus service. Details of any jail time, etc. have been kept quiet since it’s an ongoing investigation. One thing, however, is certain.
Proud Parents
Troy’s actions might seem simple, but they are indeed heroic.
He spotted a problem, decided to act despite others telling him not to, and kept calm enough to give the necessary details. It goes without saying that his mom and the entire family are so very proud of him. So are the rest of the parents.