“Time to Shine”

Every dog has his day, everyone gets their 15 minutes of fame.  If you are red headed, freckled faced, have a perpetual smile and are considered by some to be “slightly” overweight when do you come into your full glory?  When are you greeted like a hero? The week before Christmas break and you come to the bus with your big smile wearing a Santa hat.  As you enter the bus all eyes turn to you and you say, “Ho, Ho, Ho!” of course.  As you walk down the aisle little children pat your belly and say, “Santa, Santa”.  You sit down knowing it doesn’t get much better than this.  After Mr. Mucus, I mean Santa, was seated there were a few rounds of Rudolph sang than they moved onto Jingle Bells.  The sing-a-long came to a close when Santa asked, “Mr. Brandon, do you know the real meaning of Christmas?”  There was a gentle quietness that fell across the bus like a Hallmark special on TV.  “Yes, I do know the real meaning of Christmas” I replied.  Each student anticipated in silence for the sharing of the real meaning of Christmas.  Then in a soft loving voice I said, “The true meaning of Christmas is to buy your bus driver a really, really nice present.”  The riot that occurred could not be described as Peace on earth good will toward men.  As the violence subsided someone finally ask, “Well then Mr. Brandon what do you want for Christmas?”  My reply of, “To throw all of you off the bus and live happily ever after,” was not very well received.  From Mr. Brandon’s School Bus Merry Christmas.

P.S.  When you have over 60 elementary students on your bus do you know how many elf on the shelf stories you have to listen to?