Boy Gets on the Bus but When the Bus Driver Looks at His Feet, He Calls the Police

Riding the bus is an everyday occurrence for many people, from working business people to children going to school. Sometimes suspicious passengers come on board, but usually, it’s just another day on the bus.

But that doesn’t mean something can’t go wrong. Margaret had seen it all since she has been a bus driver for ten years. But nothing could prepare her for this extraordinary day when she drove her usual route along a quiet road when out of nowhere, this kid passed by. 

Meet Margaret

Margaret has seen everything working on the bus line for ten years. From drunkards to street performers. She has seen just about every rude passenger and has kicked her fair share of passengers off of the bus, but this was a different morning. She’d never had a passenger quite like this before...

A strange sighting

Today, she made her usual rounds. It was early in the morning, and she was rolling through town just like she would any other day when she noticed something strange. Someone is waiting for her at the bus stop. That sounds pretty normal, right, except for the fact that it’s a little boy...

A young boy 

She pulls up to the bus stop as she normally did every day on the route. Opening the doors, she could see the little boy a little clearer than before. He was young and looked very scared. Margaret knew something was off by the way he clung to the pole and said nothing. Turning to face him, she asked him an important question...

A simple question 

It was clear the young boy had been crying. The Veteran bus driver knew she needed to help him, so she spoke softly,

An important detail

Then Margaret notices something else strange about this boy. He wasn’t wearing any shoes. Despite it being summer, it was still a chilly morning, and there’s no good reason a little boy waiting at the bus stop shouldn’t be wearing shoes. Margaret waited anxiously to hear the little boy’s story and noticed a very remarkable detail...

The little boy is wary

The little boy seemed hesitant at first, and Margaret could tell the story he was about to tell her would likely be an interesting one. Maybe even something that could get him into trouble. Margaret made sure to let him know that he was safe with her. The little boy sighed; he was ready to share.

A rabbit chase

He explained to her that he’d been playing in his front yard very early that morning when he’d spotted a rabbit. Soon enough, he was chasing after the rabbit through the woods. However, after a while, the rabbit disappeared. He decided to head back home and came out of the woods when he realized he was lost.

A brave call

He decided he would make the walk home. Unfortunately for the little boy, he was both confused and scared. That was when he saw the bus stop. The little boy figured that he should wait at the bus stop. Eventually, a bus would come, and he could be picked up and find his way back home. 

Finding the bus

Of course, this was still scary for him, and the bus had taken a long time to come. But Margaret had found him, and the little boy was relieved; he would finally be able to head back home. That was the moment that Margaret got a strange feeling inside …

The young boy was not in danger

Hearing the story made Margaret feel a little better; the young boy was lost and not in greater danger from abandonment or kidnapping. He’d simply gotten lost, and his explanation that he had been playing in the yard explained why he wasn’t wearing shoes and why his feet were roughed up. However, she was still wary...

A tricky position

Although the young boy had not been abandoned or kidnapped, someone in town was currently searching for their little boy. However, Margaret was still on the clock and had a route to run. She paused for a moment to consider the situation and decide on what path to take next. 

Magaret makes a decision

Margaret knew what she had to do. She called into her boss on the radio and canceled the rest of her route for that morning. After her call, she announced to the other passengers to let them know of the changes; although it was inconvenient, they all agreed the young boy getting home was a top priority.

A kind consensus is reached

Margaret dropped the rest of the passengers off at the nearest stop and focused on the young boy. She had to find this little boy’s family. She asked him his name, and together they began to talk. But they stumbled onto a more pressing issue that she had not considered. 

A new problem arises

He couldn’t describe his house very well. In fact, he had a minimal idea where he lived. The only information he was certain of was his first and last name and his age. Since they were out in the woods, Margaret grimaced; finding his home would prove far too dangerous for her to do on her own.  What could she do?

Magaret considers social media

She considered posting a picture of the boy online and hopefully gaining enough buzz that his parents would find it and seek her out, but she knew that could be dangerous. What if the post attracted dangerous people or the parents became angry over having their toddlers' face plastered over the internet. She would have to come up with an alternative but first…

The little boy is hungry

Just as Margaret considered her options, she heard a low rumbling sound behind her. It was the little boy. Margaret looked at the time and realized he had likely been waiting for breakfast when he went after the rabbit, which meant he was starving! She smiled and decided they would deal with one problem at a time. 

A hearty pizza is served

Margaret drove to the nearest fast food and ordered the kid's meal, making sure to ask them if it contained any common allergens. Satisfied with the answer, she paid for the meal and watched as the little boy hungrily ate away in silence. Finally, he was done eating, and Margaret walked him back to the bus. 

She seeks help at the nearby police station

Margaret decided she couldn’t do this on her own. So she and the little boy went to the police station. The little boy was nervous about being going into the police station and was still very distressed at being lost for so long. Mostly he just wanted to be back with his parents.

The little boy is nervous

She explained that he still was not in any trouble and that only really bad guys got in trouble at the station. She also explained that the officers would help them find his parents, who were likely looking for him and missing him as much as he missed them. This seemed to make him feel better.

At the station

They pulled up to the police station on the bus and hopped out. Taking the little boy’s hand, the pair walked into the station. They sat in the waiting room for a moment while the officers attended to other people. Finally, it was their turn to speak with the officers. 

Margaret speaks to the officer

The attending officer listened while the little boy and Margaret explained their stories. After a moment, he smiled and offered the young boy a piece of candy. When the young boy was fully distracted, he turned to Margaret and thanked her for what she had done. However, he informed her that there was a long process involved. 

A slight hookup occurs

First, Margaret would have to give her testimony to her supervisor, who wouldn't be free for another hour, then it would be up to the supervisor to decide on what course they would take in getting the boy back to his parents. Margaret was uncomfortable with this.

A risky position

Although she had canceled her morning route, she had promised to make it up with an afternoon shift. As a bus driver keeping on schedule was the most important duty she had. If she canceled her second shift, she would likely get a formal reprimand. Margaret was worried, but she knew the only other option was to leave the young boy at the station. 

Magaret decides to wait

Even as she thought about it, she knew she couldn't do that to the young child. She would simply have to wait for the supervisor and hope for the best. If she got lucky, the supervisor would wrap things up early, and Margaret would be on her shift in no time. Sadly things don't always go as planned.

Time passes

An hour had passed, and the supervisor was still nowhere to be seen. After waiting an extra fifteen minutes, the officer informed Margaret the supervisor was headed back to the station and was sorry for running late. By now, the young boy was nestled on Margarets' lap and napping away. 

The supervisor arrives

Finally, the supervisor showed up. She thanked Margaret for waiting and informed the officers of what they had to do. The instructions were simple; they would pass along the young boy's age and physical description to all the nearby stations and have the stations verify his identity with anyone who made a report. 

The phone lines are ringing!

It didn't take long for the feedback to come rushing in, and soon, Margaret was informed that they had likely found the boy's parents. The parents had been informed and were on their way to the station to get their son. All was well, and Margaret breathed a sigh of relief! 

Things are looking up 

“The last thing I wanted was his parents getting more panicked over his state.” Not only would the young boy be reunited with his parents, but Margaret was certain she would make it just in time for her afternoon shift. She held the young boy while he slept and brushed his hair as neatly as she could,

The parents arrive

Not long after, the door to the station opened, and a pair of worried parents immediately greeted them. It turned out that the parents had been looking for their little boy all morning and had resorted to going to the police, believing that their son might have been kidnapped.

The young family is reunited

The couple was beyond happy to have their son back. He and Margaret explained what had happened to both the parents and the police. Everyone agreed that the little boy had been brilliant and brave to wait at the bus stop. But then their attention moved to Margaret...

An unexpected issue emerges

The parents were beyond grateful for her help and offered to call into her work to verify the story. Even the officers agreed to do the same. Magaret smiled and waved. It was no problem for her. She was glad the young boy was with his family. However, an unexpected detail threatened everything...

They cannot leave! 

Just as Margaret and the parents were heading out, they were stopped by the officer. Both the young couple and Margaret were confused. What could the reason for keeping them be? Turns out, although the young boy was found safe, the police were obligated to call in child protective services. 

Magaret was going to be late

Everyone involved was required to submit separate testimonials to the social worker coming in, to do an emergency review. Margarets' heart hurt for the parents, but she was also scared of herself. It was becoming clear that she would not be able to make the afternoon shift after all.

The social worker arrives, but not everything is resolved

The social worker arrived thirty minutes later. She spoke briefly to everyone before inviting them in individually for their interviews. After the interviews, she explained that the parents were free to take their son home, but there would be a few more routine visits. Everything worked out, but Margaret still had one great worry.