I stared blankly at our bus driver from the back of the bus where I sat.
I sat just behind Mr Mighty, an early fifties old man. I couldn't tell why I had my eyes on him but he was looking all healthy and happy that morning. I could tell from the way he greeted all the students who came up the bus that morning.
He adjusted the side mirror and looked at me. I could see him in the mirror, too. Then he winked making me blurt into giggles. I was a loner, a shy, quiet girl in the class that barely had friends. I preferred sitting on my own and taking in all that was happening in class. And somehow, it didn't affect my grades. I still had A's in the right subjects.
That day, we were embarking on a road trip to a science museum in the next state. We all have always looked forward to it. It gave us the opportunity to see the beautiful scenery of our precious community and also interact with students from other schools.
The sun was hot that morning. It wasn’t its usual cheerful blue; it was heavy like it carried a secret that it would drop later. I watched as other students boarded the school bus.
"Good morning Mr Mighty" Anna greeted him cheerfully as she hopped on the bus with a popsicle in her hands. "Here I got you a little treat," she said, stressing the word little and holding out the treat like it was a prize. She had her hair packed all back.
Mr Mighty chuckled. This deep, fulfilling laugh that echoed in the bus. "Oh, my Anna. But the Dr says no more sugar for me. You know these bones don’t heal as fast as they used to.” Mr Mighty was a sickle cell carrier.
I watched as Anna's face turned sour, she pouted dramatically which left the other students laughing. She stood there staring at the popsicles in her hands.
"Here Mr Mighty, I got you an apple" Jenny pushed through from the back handing over a green apple to Mr Mighty. "You know what they say, an apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
Mr Mighty smiled revealing his white teeth. I wondered how he gets to keep it that white for over fifty years. At the same time, I'm struggling with the browns in mine.
"Thank you, I'll take that," Mr Mighty said to Jenny. He turned to Anna who was still standing with her face down "And I'll take this too because it's a gift and it's wrong to reject one. I'm sure it came from the heart"
Anna's eyes lit up. "Thank you Mr Mighty. I'll get you an apple next time".
"Hello, Mr Mighty" This time it was our class teacher Mrs Felicity. She was the last to board the bus. "You're looking all healthy today and that's a good thing right?" She asked looking up at the door.
Mr Mighty nodded "All healthy!" He joked.
I looked at him from the side mirror as he smiled and placed the two gifts on the dashboard of the car. That was just how loved he was by the students. Although he looked healthy, something in his eyes still looked hollow. Fleeting, like a shadow passing over his face, but I kept my observation with me.
"And here we go!" Mr Mighty announced as the bus rumbled to life. He changed the gear and off we went, with our destination in mind. I watched as Mr Mighty's hands romanced the steering back and forth as he turned and wheeled through the side mirror.
I turned my face outside the window as the smell of diesel and the rumbling of the engine filled the vehicle. Like a movie the whole noise in the bus all died down I guess everyone had quickly keyed in into the adventure up ahead of us.
We arrived at the museum and everyone scrambled out of the bus. Only Mr Mighty was left behind in the bus. With the help of our teacher, we walked into the museum.
Inside the science was a collection of different science projects both historic and the future. Every corner of it seemed to have a drop of science marvel. There were towering dinosaur skeletons, walls shimmering with educational projections. A pure world of science wonders where each exhibit was an invitation to learn more about the next exhibit.
A few hours later we were done and all walking back to the bus. Each with their clique and as usual I was the only one alone. We were just feet away from the bus when a loud cry from the bus drew our attention.
It was Anna. She was standing outside with the bus open and Mr. Mighty was on the floor, his face pale and his chest were as though they weren't beating anymore.
“Is he… is he dead?” Anna whispered, the words slicing through the quiet like a blade. She was shaking.
“No, he’s not!” Mrs Felicity our teacher calmed us down after springing into action and checking his pulse, "He has a pulse, though it's weak I think he's having a crisis. Someone get Anna to calm down" Mrs. Felicity spoke together all at once.
Immediately panic erupted amongst the class. With teary faces and scared-looking ones. The only adult in our midst, Mrs Felicity looked confused and like she would faint.
“Call 911!” Jack, the handsome one shouted throwing a bottle of water to our teacher. "Then we keep him hydrated as we wait. Some sickle cell crises are usually caused by dehydration" His father was a doctor so we didn't doubt what he said.
“I've been trying but there’s no reception here!” another classmate yelled back.
“What do we do?” Jenny asked, scared to the bones.
With a deep breath, our teacher stood up as she delegated one of us to keep Mr Mighty steady and hydrated. She was sweating by now. We all wanted to hear what she had to say, what her plan was, and what we were going to do. We all looked at her waiting for her next command.
Then she spoke frail but determined. “Our only option now is to get him to a hospital if we really want to save Mr Mighty. And that means driving this bus out of here. Now, I can't drive a bus, I don't think I've driven before." There were gasps in the crowd but she asked "Now, Who here has a license?” ignoring the gasps.
Almost all our hands were raised up, mine included. She smiled. “Now, who’s driven a vehicle this big before?”
There was silence.
“I can,” Jack said hesitantly. “I mean I haven't driven a bus but I've driven my dad’s truck sometimes. It can go as a bus"
Mrs Felicity nodded. “Great, Jack, get on the wheels. I'll sit beside him and help him navigate. Every other person takes turns in helping Mr Mighty. We love him and he's not going to die on us”
"Yeah!" There were cheers of determination from the crowd.
We all filed into our different seats and soon, Jack gripped the wheel and roared the bus to life, louder than I’d ever heard it. It was more like a desperate growl of determination to save Mr Mighty's life. I watched from my seat as Mrs. Felicity fumbled with the map on her phone to find the nearest hospital.
Just behind me was Jenny and a group of others fanning and whispering words to Mr Mighty “You’re going to be okay,” she said with tears.
Gently Jack rolled the bus down the road as Mrs Felicity shouted at intervals "Left!" And Jack would swerve, sending us all sliding to one side of the vehicle while holding tight to our dear lives.
It felt like the road wouldn't end, we prayed and called on Mr Mighty to fight on.
"There! There it is!” Mrs. Felicity finally yelled. Pointing to a building down the road.
Jack quickly slammed the brakes in front of the hospital as we all ran into the hospital calling on doctors and nurses. And soon Mr Mighty was wheeled into the hospital.
We all filled the lobby, some praying and wishing he survived it, some crying out their eyes while others consoled who they could.
Hours later the Dr came out and announced "Mr Mighty is stable now she said, her words like a balm to our frayed nerves. “You got him here just in time.”
We all felt relieved and put smiles on our faces again.
We got back to school at night as Jack had to drive slowly in the dark. He was like a hero of the day.
Immediately we got into the school park we were met with shouts from our parents accusing the school of kidnapping their kids. But when we told them what had happened, they had pity on Mr Mighty and apologized to the school management. My dad took me home and I never talked about what happened to Mr Mighty to anyone. I felt pity and sadness for him.
A few weeks later, Mr Mighty was back in school but not as our driver anymore. He had resigned after that incident. He only came bearing apples as gifts to us for saving his life that day. And for the first time,
I cried, together with my classmates as we saw our most loved driver leave.