"Hey Partner"

With the bitter cold the students have been coming to the bus all bundled up from head to toe, with multiple layers on.  You know, where they can't put their arms down to their sides and it would be easier to role if you fell down than it would be to get up.  As a second grader ran or waddled, because of all the clothes, to the bus his head gear seemed to be out of place.  I had seen plenty of boggins, scarfs, and ear muffs from normal to animal shaped, but he was wearing what resembled a red felt cowboy hat.  Its appearance can only be described as looking like a paper wad that has been unfolded and waded back up a number of times.  As he came up the steps I said, "Good morning cowboy Bob."  He snatched off his hat in typical western fashion and said, "Yee haw, partner.  I smell like sweat."  He also said he smelled like something else associated with those that work closely with cattle that I will not mention.  I asked if he had been out working the cattle and he said he had and repeated what he smelled like.  Before he got off the bus he had a concern.  He put the crumpled hat that barely resembled a cowboy hat on the dash of the bus and asked if he could leave it there because he didn't want the other kids to mess it up.  Cowboys love their hats.