The sounds of slamming locker doors and excited voices echoed through the halls of Sleepyside Junior-Senior High. Trixie forcefully dumped all her notes and binders into a nearby trashcan then joined the other students as they streamed out of the building. Congratulations and high-fives were exchanged with her fellow graduates. Emerging into the hot, afternoon sunshine, Trixie looked for Honey and Diana.

“Trixie, over her!” waved Honey.

Trixie started to walk over to join Honey but stopped when she saw the busses waiting at the curb. Suddenly, Trixie’s mind was transported back 13 years, to her first day of kindergarten and her first bus ride.

“Come on, Trixie,” coaxed Brian as the school bus pulled up in front of Crabapple Farm and opened its’ doors. “Don’t be afraid. I’m right here with you.”

Trixie placed her foot on the bottom step of the bus and hoisted herself up. After climbing aboard, she stopped and looked at all the empty seats.

“Go ahead, Trix,” said Brian as he gave her a soft push forward.

She looked questioningly back at her brother.

“I don’t know where to sit,” she said softly.

“Go to the middle of the bus and sit down. I’ll be right behind you,” Brian said into her ear.

 Trixie carefully walked down the narrow aisle and slid into a seat. Brian slid in next to her. Trixie looked around and noticed that Mart had gone to the back of the bus to join his school friends. As the bus began to move, Trixie slipped her hand into Brian’s and kept it there. When they arrived at school, Brian led Trixie back down the bus aisle and off the vehicle. Holding her hand, they walked together to the kindergarten classroom that Trixie and her mother had visited two days earlier. Brian stopped at the doorway of the class, turned Trixie around and whispered, “You’ll be fine. This is the beginning of a great adventure for you.” After patting her shoulder, Brian disappeared into the hallway full of students and Trixie entered her classroom.

“Trixie,” Honey yelled. “Come on, I’m driving. Remember?”

Trixie turned and looked at Honey and Diana, her mind clouded by the overwhelming memories.

“I’m gonna take the bus,” she yelled and ran for the waiting bus.

Honey and Diana shrugged, turned and dropped out of sight among the other students.

Alone on the bus, Trixie found a seat in the middle and sat down. She looked out the window at all the other kids as they waved and shouted back and forth.

“We always remember our ‘firsts’, but we are never sure of our ’lasts’. I'll be able to recall both,” Trixie whispered as she sat back in her seat, ready for her last bus ride home to Crabapple Farm.