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Reuven Waits for the Bus

Ages 6-9 | Story and 9 activities

Reuven stands at the bus stop in the cold, stamping his feet.

The bus is supposed to come at 7:40. It is 7:55. His breath makes little clouds. A car drives by, and then a truck. No bus.

"This is so annoying," he mutters. "I'm going to be late for school. Morah will give me a look. And I have my science presentation first thing."

He walks in a small circle. He looks down the road. He kicks a pebble. It skitters across the sidewalk and lands in a puddle.

A hot, prickly feeling rises in his chest. Why does this always happen to him? Why can't the bus just come on time?

A neighbor, Mrs. Katz, is walking her little dog. She stops when she sees his face. "Waiting for the bus?"

"It's late," says Reuven. "It's never late. Today of all days."

"That's frustrating," she says kindly. "Do you have a way to reach your parents?"

"Mommy said that if the bus doesn't come, I should find a grown-up I know."

"Smart mother," says Mrs. Katz. "Come, we'll sit in my kitchen where it's warm. My son is leaving for work soon. He can drop you at school, but first we'll tell your mother."

In her kitchen, Reuven takes a slow breath. The dog sniffs his shoes. Mrs. Katz gives him a cup of warm cocoa. Then she walks him down the block to his house, where Mommy is just coming out the door.

"Reuven! There was a delay with the bus. Thank you, Mrs. Katz. Totty will drive him."

Reuven nods. "Okay."

Ten minutes later, Totty's car pulls up. The cocoa left a little mustache on Reuven's lip, and Totty smiles when he sees it. In the car, Reuven feels his shoulders drop.

"I'm sorry about the bus," says Totty. "That was a long wait."

"I got really upset. I felt like yelling."

"That makes sense. What did you do instead?"

Reuven thinks about it. "I walked in a circle. I kicked a pebble. And then I asked for help."

"That was the best part."

They arrive at school fifteen minutes late. Reuven walks into class, and Morah Dina looks up. "Reuven, I heard about the bus. Come in. We saved you a spot."

His presentation is second on the list now. He has time to take out his poster and straighten the corners. When his turn comes, he stands up, takes a deep breath, and talks about how plants drink water through their roots. The class asks three questions. Morah says, "Excellent job."

At lunch, his friend Yaakov says, "I heard you were late. Rough morning?"

"It was a little rough," says Reuven. "But then it turned out fine."

That afternoon, he writes a thank-you note to Mrs. Katz. He draws a picture of her little dog on it, with a big smile.

The next time the bus is late, Reuven walks in one small circle, takes a breath, and goes to look for a grown-up. He doesn't kick a single pebble.