"Harmony with Nature"

As the sun was coming up over the hills, I made a comment to Mr. Mucus about what a beautiful sunrise that God had given us but his mind seemed elsewhere. Then he announced loudly, "The squirrels are bothering my nuts". Well this drew a snicker from the older crowd and thank goodness they and I kept our first thoughts to ourselves. He continued, "The squirrels keep taking the walnuts from my tree and I want them to stop". "Well" I said, " do you eat the walnuts?" "No," he replied, "but I would like to try some". Trying the logical and less violent approach, because the older kids had now chimed in with how to trap or shoot them, I said, "Well, God made the squirrels and God made the walnut trees so they could have something to eat". "I know" he said, "but they always take the big nuts and leave the little nuts behind". "Ok," I continued, "put a sign in the tree that says, only take the little nuts and leave the big nuts alone." He seemed quite happy with this solution but it was negated by an older student who informed him that squirrels can't read. Before we could discuss how to deal with illiterate squirrels the conversation was interrupted by on of the Three Stooges who yelled out that his brother was pointing his booty towards him and he was afraid it would go off. I believe the nuts are safe from the squirrels, because most of them are on the bus.

"Archeology"

By going through the remnants of past civilizations acheologist are able to piece together the stories of those who once occupied the area. As I do the archeology walk to see what's left behind from those who have now departed I contemplate the items. Let's see assorted pens, pencils, markers, crayons, a collection of papers with low scores that someone was hoping would never see the light of day, candy wrappers, cookie crumbs, a Bass Pro Shop hat, a jacket, battery powered hamster and a set of handcuffs. Yes, I know what you're thinking who in their right mind would leave behind a Bass Pro Shop hat? Oh, well typical day.

"Sure ???"

Question of the day, "Mr. Brandon, do you think I'm cute enough to be a hamster?" "Sure", I said without hesitation. Always sound firm in your answers, it makes it sound like you know what's going on, even if you don't.

"Reading The Signs"

I believe if most successful bus drivers were to trace their ancestry, they would find they are descendants of trackers. You know the ones you see in the old westerns that look at the ground and can tell how many horses came this way and one was carrying a one legged man with a patch over his left eye or put their hand in the coals of an old campfire tell you how long they've been gone and what they ate for supper. These are a few of the signs and their meaning on the old bus trail.

• Student pauses looks at you with extra-large smile: You are to notice missing teeth.
• Little girl swishes hair crossing the road: You are to comment on new haircut.
• Student pauses and looks down at feet: Compliment new shoes.
• Student looks at you with eyes wider than normal: New glasses.
• Student looks down at feet one foot forward: Needs help tying shoe.
• Boy that usually runs to the bus walks extremely slow to bus: Sister not ready Mom has told him to stall for time.
• Young student is always the last one off the bus at school each morning and always stops, looks  at you and grins: They need a hug before they go to class and they didn't want anyone else to know. Little boys often need for you to also pretend to punch them in the stomach or act like you're putting knots on their head.