A gentle story about the steps of riding the school bus, from waiting safely to arriving at school with help from caring grown-ups.
It is time for school. I wait for the bus with my grown-up. We stand together on the sidewalk, back from the road. The sidewalk is our safe spot. I can hold my grown-up's hand if I want to. It feels steady. We look down the street. We are waiting together. My grown-up says, "The bus will be here soon." I have my red backpack. I am ready.
Here comes the bus! It is big and yellow. It makes a gentle whooshing sound as it stops. The driver is a safe grown-up. The stop sign swings out. The doors open with a friendly sigh. I wait my turn. The children in front of me walk up the steps. Then, it is my turn. I walk up the steps, one at a time. The driver smiles and says, "Good morning!"
I am on the bus! Now, I find a seat. I can choose to sit by the window or in the middle. I pick a window seat. The vinyl seat feels cool. I put my red backpack on my lap. It is a cozy spot. I can see outside. Trees and houses go by. My backpack is safe with me. Sitting down feels just right.
The bus starts to move. The ride can be bumpy sometimes. That is okay! Bumps happen when we go over cracks in the road. It is just the bus moving. The driver is driving safely. I can hold onto the seat in front of me. Holding on feels secure. My hands are strong. The bumps do not last long. We keep moving forward.
The bus can be noisy. There are talking voices, the rumble of the engine, and the squeak of brakes. The sounds are all part of the ride. When it feels like a lot, I can take a slow, deep breath. Breathing in... and out. I can look at my hands in my lap. Or, I can look out the window at the sky. The noise is outside; I am safe inside my seat.
I stay in my seat until the bus stops at school. It is important to stay sitting. I can talk quietly to a friend if I want to. I keep my body safe by sitting calmly. I see the school building coming closer! It has big windows and a flag. We are almost there. I feel my backpack on my lap. I am doing a great job riding the bus.
The bus stops at school! The doors open. I wait for my turn to get up. I walk carefully down the aisle. I hold the railing as I go down the big steps. One step, two steps. My teacher is right there, waiting to help! They smile and say, "Good morning, Sam!" I step onto the sidewalk. I made it off the bus safely.
I did it! I rode the bus all the way to school. My grown-up helped me wait. The bus driver helped me get here safely. My teacher helped me get off. Grown-ups help me get where I need to go. I can feel proud of myself. I followed the steps. I was brave. Now, I am ready for a great day at school!