Gò0dNews for Kids
Wilson, The Boy Who Hated to Ride the School Bus
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by Juanita G. Ellis
ilson loved to walk home after school. When
he wasn’t fast enough. After getting his books and his coat
all the other kids raced to the yellow school
and running to the buses, he still missed the bus!
buses lined up in front of T.J. Walker, Wilson
That day in the hall outside of his 5th grade room, he
would walk around to the side of the building, past the
bumped heads with another boy who was running for HIS
basketball court and the pile of sand at the very edge of the
bus! A huge egg developed on Wilson’s forehead. He tried
playground. Wilson liked walking through the play yard.
very hard not to cry. “WHAT happened to you?” everyone
He liked remembering the fun he had at recess.
asked. That’s when Wilson decided to get off the bus. He never rode the bus again. Past the playground behind the school was a huge ditch that divided the housing project from the schoolyard. A board was placed over the ditch at the far edge of the playground. Wilson thought, “Some kids made that bridge.” Wilson loved walking beside the ditch until he came to the bridge. By the second day, Wilson could find the bridge without even thinking about it. The houses on the other side of the bridge were all alike, but Wilson just kept walking toward his house. He was not afraid. He felt good inside. Wilson loved walking. He liked remembering the street names. He liked listening to himself as he thought of different things. He knew he was growing taller. He liked growing up. During those walks home
Wilson hated riding the bus. Sometimes, Wilson’s
from school, Wilson discovered a secret! God was with him
bus would be late, or it would be in a different spot.
as he was growing stronger and older! Wilson knew God
Sometimes, the regular bus driver would not be there.
would be with him when he was a grown man. Would
Someone ELSE would be driving the bus, or the number
God be with him when he was a grandpa? Squaring his
of the bus would be changed. Some of his friends HAD
shoulders, Wilson knew the answer was YES!
to ride the school bus, but Wilson had a choice. His house was not too far from the school. The day Wilson decided not to ever ride the bus again was the day he collided with another boy in the hall. The
Think 1. Do you and Wilson share some of the same feelings?
dismissal bell had rung. Everyone was racing for the buses!
2. How is Wilson changing and growing?
That was another reason Wilson hated the bus. Sometimes,
3. Do you think part of Wilson’s confidence comes from knowing God is with him?
8 // March 2022
