I realize that this has been resolved but thought I'd comment for some that may read it at a later date. I have driven school bus. Bus drivers have a really tough job, believe me. I've worked with teachers that have driven after retirement and they said they couldn't believe what a difficult job it is. That being said, It is not uncommon for a child to fall asleep on a bus, and sometimes they forget to get off. It happens. We were required to check our bus before leaving it between routes, and at the end of the day for sleepers. It was an immediate termination for any driver that left the bus with a child on board. No excuses, or questions asked you were gone, as it should be. It was also suggested that we take a couple minutes between schools to check for belonging or children left on the bus. Your sons situation is why. I'm glad you got your call and it was worked out to your satisfaction.

Kim, I read your request to the DH last night and he came up with various ideas that involved the special soft ware you can buy (probably at great expense) to enable you to make your own banner/scroll. He is also worried that you might have some draconian regulations from either the bus company or the school that if the paper/plastic fell onto a kid and hurt a hair of their head you would be sued for $$$$'s millions . . . as might well happen here in the UK. Have you thought of just buying a roll of paper and writing the various 'Hellos' on it in bright colours? Another possibility, if your bus has a tape/CD deck, would be for you to record all the different words, maybe with pauses for the kids to reply.

Mom dropped us off at the bus stop for a long ride to the university where we went to a school taught by professors and undergraduate students earning credits. The subjects changed depending on the undergraduates coming in and out. We even had a sweet guy named Venus who taught literature. I didnt know about being gay then, just thought Venus had interesting choice of colors in his wardrobe. We stayed overnight in the dorms and Rocky taught us to play his guitar a little. My friend stole beer out of his fridge and he had to endure 9 year old drunken humor all night. So we rode the bus with university students and talked politics, the environment and music. 8-9 grade I rode my bike. It wasn't a trendy bike so I quit riding it and walked unless the weather was bad. Those years were miserable. I couldn't understand why kids couldn't get along like we did at the university school. The teachers were grouchy and everything so regimented. I missed my friendly easygoing undergraduate teachers. High school was far away so we took the bus. Most kids at that school were rich and had cars or they got rides from housekeepers, moms or friends. It put you in a certain category to stand in line to wait for that bus. My best friend finally found someone to drive her home in exchange for gossip and homework help. I stayed late for after school programs a few times and had to walk 4 or 5 miles home. The shortest way was past some strawberry fields. The last time I walked home alone, a migrant picker chased after me and I ran into the nearest neighborhood and ran into the second house when I saw he was still following me. I didnt know anyone there. I just waited behind the front door scared and listened to the shower going in the next room. After a while I looked out and he was gone. I ran all the way home with a sick feeling in my stomach. After that I always took the bus and just missed special programs. One time we came under attack by avocados. A few times some boys used to sit in the back and yell racist stuff at the people in the fields as we passed. One day as we passed some men ran up and threw unripe avocados at the bus and broke the windows. We had to wait for the supervisor, a new bus, the name taking, reports before we could go. My mom said, do you just want to ride your bike now but I was scared having been chased and I never said anything about it. What a change from walking all around the university in grade school and never a thought of any harm. One time near the bus stop, I saw a rabbit killed by a coyote and got faint and fell. Students took me to the university clinic and got my scrapes cleaned. They took me to lunch at the cafe and gave me a ride back to school. Now parents are afraid to let kids out of sight.

Aww Thank you all much. So I ask Tim when the bully and other bullies ask to play football with you why did you say sure....he said grandma if they are having fun with Alex and me they won't want to be a bully again. Don't get me wrong I'm not against these kids comming here to play I just wanted to know Tims reasoning. Hope I don't regret this, because I'm wondering why all of a sudden they want to play football with Tim..I suppose they just heard Tim and Alex talking about it and wanted to join in the fun....no teasing to and from school today...one of the bullys offered Alex a unopened poptart.