Collapsed Wings

Bus 79

I grabbed my backpack and slung it over my shoulder quickly before running out my front door at 6:15 am. It was still dark outside, and it was actually pretty chilly. I pulled my coat tighter to my body as I made my way down to the end of my street, where my bus stop was located.

At exactly 6:20 am, a big yellow school bus came into view. I sighed to myself, dreading the school day ahead of me. I hated school. I hated the grades, the cliques, the classes, the homework, the textbooks, the early morning wake ups, the 15 minute lunches, and the stupid building I was stuck inside for 7 hours straight.

But hating it won't make it better. It'll just make my day worse so, I might as well make an effort to look forward to my school day.

As my bus stopped in front of me, I glanced at the bus number that was printed right beside the bus's door. Bus 79.

I stepped inside my bus, politely saying good morning to my bus driver, Miss Kendra. Miss K for short. She was nice, and she changed her driving route so that I was always the first bus pickup. She said she wanted me to have the privilege of picking my seat first. It was the least she could do before she drove me off to what I liked to call a prison.

I sat in the second row, on the left side. I don't know why I always chose one of the seats near the front, but perhaps it was because I didn't like the rowdy and loud people who sat at the back of the bus. That's a pretty good reason right? Yeah, I thought so.

Miss K began driving again once I was seated, and the next stop was on a little street of a small neighborhood. We've never went this way before, so I couldn't help but ask,

"Where are we going Miss K? A new route?"

"There's a new stop we have to make. Three new kids." She told me as she continued to drive.

When we arrived close to the stop, I could already see three boys, who looked a lot alike, that were already walking closer to where the bus would potentially stop for them. It was like they couldn't wait to get on! Weirdos.

As soon as the bus came to a stop and opened its door, the three boys, who I assumed were brothers, practically ran onto the bus.

"Good morning boys! I'm Miss Kendra, but you can call me Miss K." She smiled at them.

"I'm Beau, and these are my little brothers Luke and Jai." One of them, obviously the oldest, introduced.

"Pick a seat anywhere you'd like, and if you ever run into trouble with some of the other kids, please don't hesitate to tell me." She added.

The boys nodded, and I honestly expected them to make their way towards the back of the bus. Boys are usually loud and noisy so, I truly thought they would go and blend in with the other trouble makers that sat at the back of the bus.

I didn't think anything of the three brothers.

That's where I was wrong.

They sat in the rows across from me. The oldest, Beau, sat in a row in front of them and the two younger brothers sat in the seat directly across from mine. The two younger brothers look liked twins, so I made the automatic assumption that they were.

They started whispering to each other, and I couldn't help but try and listen to what they were saying. My curiosity got the best of me, and I wish it hadn't.

"I'm really scared though Beau! What if they make fun of me?" One of the younger brothers asked.

"It'll be fine Jai. Not every kid knows how to read, and if anyone bothers you about it just let me know and I'll handle it." Beau said to the boy, who's name was said to be Jai.

He couldn't read? Why not?

"But I'll be so behind from everyone else! Beau can I please go back home? I don't want to do this anymore." Jai pleaded.

"Jai you were so sure about this before though! You even said that hell itself would be better than home. Who knows? Maybe you'll actually like school." Beau reasoned.

"I know but-"

"Relax Jai! You're getting me all worked up. Calm down alright? You'll have me in almost all of your classes so I promise you will be just fine." The other twin said to Jai.

"Luke you can't promise that." Jai sighed. Aha! So the other twin's name was Luke.

"Yes I can. I promised that I would keep you safe last night didn't I? Well would you look at that? We're safe and sound on our way to school." Luke stated. What happened last night that needed protection?

"So you really think we'll be okay today?" Jai asked.

"I know so." Luke confirmed.

I finally looked over at them, and I saw that Jai was resting his head on Luke's shoulder, and their hands were clasped tightly together.

What have these boys been through?

Stop after stop, I couldn't take my mind off the conversation the brothers had. Why couldn't Jai read? What happened last night? Why were they so scared?

When we finally arrived at school, all of the kids on my bus got off one by one. I was one of the last ones to get off, and of course, the brothers were as well.

"Not a word about our life at home. Underwood?" Beau told his little brothers.

"Yeah we know...wait, what bus did we ride? How are we gonna get home if we don't know which bus to get on?" Luke asked as he saw our bus drive away.

I decided to help them out, so I spoke up and said,

"Bus 79."

It was the least I could do.

"Thanks." Beau smiled at me, before walking off with his brothers. Luke and Jai were still waking hand in hand, and I couldn't help but want to get to know them.

Maybe I could help with whatever issue they had? I mean after all, they ride my bus.

The place where our story begins.

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WooHoo! A new story!

A new adventure for you and I :)

Much love,

rrodrigues xx