Butterflies on the Big Yellow Bus
On the morning of her very first day of kindergarten, Nora sat on the front porch steps. Her tummy felt fluttery and flappy, like a hundred tiny butterflies were having a dance party inside. She squeezed the green book tight against her chest.
Owl hopped down from the railing and landed soft as a pillow beside her. He nudged her shoulder with his feathery head. "Hoo," he said quietly, which in Owl meant, you are braver than you feel. Nora leaned into his warm feathers.
Claire stepped out the door with Nora's backpack. "Ready, sweet pea?" Nora didn't say yes. She didn't say no. She kissed Owl on top of his head, and Owl fluffed up proudly to guard the porch until she came home.
Claire held Nora's hand all the way down the sidewalk to the bus stop. A maple leaf twirled down, green as a frog. Nora caught it and tucked it inside the green book. Collecting leaves always made her feel a little steadier.
Then, rumble, rumble, around the corner came the big yellow bus. It was so tall! It was so yellow! Its brakes gave a happy squeak, like it was saying hello. Nora's butterflies did three somersaults at once.
The doors folded open with a whoosh. Claire crouched down and gave Nora a squeeze. "I'll be right here waiting at pickup," she promised. Nora took a big breath. The steps looked like a mountain, but she wanted to climb them herself.
Step one. Step two. Step three! At the top sat the bus driver, smiling a smile as wide as a banana. "Good morning, Nora," he said gently. "I've been looking forward to meeting you." He knew her name!
But then Nora looked down the aisle. So many seats. So many faces she didn't know. She stood very still, feeling as small as a pebble, and held the green book even tighter.
Halfway back, a girl with a purple backpack waved both arms like a windmill. She patted the empty spot beside her. "I'm Mia," she called. "I saved this seat just for you!" Nora's feet started walking before she even decided.
Nora slid onto the brown seat. It squished a little. Mia peeked at her lap. "What's that book?" Nora thought about keeping it closed. Then she opened it, right in the middle of both of them.
They looked at the foxes and the hedgehogs and the leaf she'd caught that morning. Mia giggled at the grumpy badger. The bus rolled and swayed, sunbeams bounced across the pages, and one by one, Nora's butterflies folded their wings and snuggled down to rest.
Kindergarten was busy in the best way. Nora and Mia sat on the same rug circle, a green one, of course. They drew a whole forest together, with a very wise owl in the tallest tree.
When the last bell rang, Mia gave Nora a fist bump. "See you on the bus!" she said, and skipped off to her grown-up. Nora waved until the purple backpack disappeared around the corner.
Outside, on the sunny walkway, Claire stood with her arms wide open. Nora ran so fast her backpack bounced. "Mama! The bus driver knew my name! Mia saved me a seat! We read my green book! Can I ride the bus again? Please?"
Claire laughed and scooped her close. Nora wrapped her mom in the biggest hug she had, the green book pressed proudly between them. Over Claire's shoulder, the big yellow bus rumbled off down the street, and Nora gave it a happy little wave.
