"Don't do anything stupid." Troy's friend stressed. "Just ignore it." But Troy knew something wasn't right and he couldn't stay quiet.
So, he picked up his bag and walked over to the bus driver. Little did Troy know what awaited him...
The Day Of
It all started as an ordinary day. The classes were over and Troy and the other kids got on the bus.
Normally, Troy's bus driver was a man, but as he looked up at the person sitting on the driver's seat, he noticed it was an unfamiliar woman.
Different Bus Driver
She didn't seem as friendly and polite as the regular bus driver. It seemed like she didn't want to be here at all.
But what bothered Troy the most was the strange smell on the bus.
Missed Stop
Troy didn't take his eyes off the elderly woman the entire ride home. Her hair was grey and thin and her hands were all wrinkled.
She stopped at the first dropoff point just like normal and some kids got out of the bus. But when it was time to make a second stop, the woman didn't even think about slowing down the bus. She just kept driving.
Concerned
Troy was becoming increasingly concerned. Why didn't she make a stop?
By the time the woman missed the fourth stop, all the children on the bus were wondering what was going on. Where was she taking them?
Dangerous Driving
The woman was driving fast and dangerously. Troy felt his heart pounding in his chest as she watched her drive. He knew he had to do something.
"You'll get in trouble," Troy's friend warned him. But he didn't care.
Sudden Stop
Then, suddenly, the woman hit the brake pedal and most of the children flung into the seats in front of them.
Some children started to cry. "Please, let us go!" someone shouted from the back. "I want to go home!" another child said, sobbing.
"Stop!"
But the woman didn't listen. The woman kept driving and Troy's bus was now turning onto the highway.
Just as Troy was about to get up from his seat and confront the driver, his friend pulled him back down into his seat. “Stop!” he said, “I don’t want to get in trouble!
911
But Troy knew he had to do something. He grabbed his cellphone and called 911. He explained to the operator what was going on and tried his best to pinpoint the location.
Soon, the children on the bus heard the sound of sirens behind them.
Final Stop
Several police cars were driving behind the bus, but the driver didn't seem to notice.
It wasn't until she heard the angry instructions over a loudspeaker did she finally stop the bus. One of the police officers opened the bus doors and grabbed the elderly woman.
Arrested
The children on the bus heard her loud screams and the click of handcuffs. The smell disappeared as she left the bus.
But who was she? And what was that smell?
Karolyn Denise Ray
When the parents heard the final story, they were all furious.
It turns out that Troy's regular bus driver didn't show up for work that day and the substitute driver Karolyn Denise Ray was called in to fill for him.
Charged
She had been on illicit drugs that day. Karolyn was charged with “driving under the influence of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of children."
The school is also currently looking into other options for a new bus service.
Hero
Troy's actions were indeed heroic. He quickly noticed that something was off about the driver and decided to act despite his friend telling him not to.
He provided the police with enough details to catch the woman.
Proud
Troy's parents are very proud of him and so are the other parents.
What would you do in Troy's position?