The Giggle Under Seat Eight — At the school curb, Zadie squeezed both backpack straps and counted the bus steps in a whisper. One, two, three. Read the full story →
At the school curb, Zadie squeezed both backpack straps and counted the bus steps in a whisper. One, two, three. The bus smelled like warm seats and pencil shavings, and its big door sighed, shooop. “First ride?” asked Driver Bell, tipping her cap. Zadie nodded and lifted one sneaker to the bottom step. Her tummy felt fizzy, like soda bubbles trying to be brave.
Then a tiny sneeze came from inside the bus. “A-choo!” Not from a kid. Not from Driver Bell. From under seat eight rolled a runaway rubber duck, wearing a paper mustache. Driver Bell blinked. Zadie giggled so hard her fizzy tummy popped into laughter. She climbed aboard and set the duck on the dashboard like a captain. If you peek at the bus door, can you spot where Zadie’s first brave step began?
