Calvin, once full of energy and laughter, slowly changed. His cheerful mornings faded into mumbled greetings, complaints of stomach aches, and restless nights. The biggest sign—he stopped drawing, something he loved. One morning, I walked him to the bus. He avoided other kids, pulled his cap low, and tried to sit alone. Teasing started immediately—whispers, pointing, cruel comments. Tears filled his eyes. That’s when Miss Carmen, the bus driver, reached out her hand. Calvin hesitated, then grabbed it. She held on, quietly giving him comfort.
That afternoon, she didn’t just drop the kids off. She parked, faced the parents, and calmly said: “Some of your kids are hurting people. This is bullying. And no one said a word.” She listed the incidents she’d witnessed and insisted it end immediately. At home, Calvin told me everything—the teasing, stolen hat, and cruel jokes about his drawings. The school and parents quickly acted. Miss Carmen gave him a permanent seat up front with a “Reserved” sign.
