Sophie

Sophie liked school, second grade was going very well so far. The naturally cheerful child also really liked the bus ride there, twenty minutes of fun to start her day. Sophie being the first kid on his route, Mr. Hill, swung open the doors seemingly with his broad grin. She and backpack hopped up, and Sophie took her seat behind the driver, her mom on the porch waving.

It seemed to Sophie that she had always known Mr. Hill, her daily driver since kindergarten. The first thing she remembers noticing about him was his hair under his driver's cap.  It was black and curly, just like hers. Sophie loved talking to Mr. Hill, as the bus slowly filled up with more kids. She would say hi to friends, but stayed sitting behind him. She had all day to talk to her friends. Sophie liked how Mr. Hill seemed to like talking as much as she did, and so the two chatted away, Mr Hill always asking questions, yet also seeming to know so much about what Sophie thought and felt.

It meant a lot. Growing up with no dad wasn't something Sophie really even understood. When she asked her mom about it, there was always a sad expression. "Your dad loves you, honey, we'll talk more when you're older." What did that even mean, Sophie didn't know. She felt like she WAS older, almost seven! It was a subject she didn't like to think about.

Sophie loved being with her two uncles, her mom's older brothers. In the park they'd all play toss, and she's the ball, that's the best time. Sophie stared ahead as Mr. Hill maneuvered the bulky school bus thru traffic. But this morning, as they neared her school, Sophie saw her mom again, standing on the curb with her teacher and the school principal. What's going on, Sophie wondered, why did her mom come to the school?

The bus came to a stop, and all the kids bounced off in a noisy rush, as Sophie remained seated, a bit scared. Then, she said bye to Mr. Hill and stepped down. Her teacher walked over, "Sophie, a surprise for you, it's a vacation day! Enjoy, see you Monday." Vacation day? Why? The principal just beamed as she and the teacher walked away, her mom taking her hand as they re-boarded the school bus.

Silent, Mr Hill was smiling so wide, turning sideways away from his big steering wheel. Sophie's mom, also smiling, but voice trembling, said, "Sit down, honey, Mr. Hill and I have something very important to tell you."