Chapter Four

On Sunday morning, Joshua woke up with a start and looked at his cheap, flickering LCD clock his Mom had bought him.
6:00!
They were supposed to be at school by 5:30! His Mom must have forgot to wake him up!
He got dressed and ran into the living room. He thought about waking his Mom but she wouldn't mind himleaving. Anyways he could just Ms. Wilder to call her.
He picked up his skimpy travel bag and ran out of the open door, his feet scarcely touching the floor.
When he got there the buses were just leaving the gates.
"Wait!" he screamed, his arms flailing.
The driver didn't even hear him, not that it mattered, he knew that once the bus left the school property there was no turning back. School board policy. Ms. Wilder had drummed that into their heads in the weks before the trip.
Someone did notice him though. Felicity smiled evily and waved as the bus passed by him.
Brownish water splased him in the face.
Then he woke up for real and looked at his clock.
2:00.
A nightmare.
A nightmare he had three more times.
When it was 5:00 he lept out of bed and into his new(old) jeans, (Garage sales were handy but he hated thinking that someone elses butt had been in his pants) and a comfortable t-shirt. His Mom was allready downstairs. Baking blueberry pancakes.
Caroline only made blueberry pancakes when something really good happened. Like when Josh got his arm out of a sling. This was a really special day. Something Josh was actually excited about. She was beging to worry she would never see his eyes sparkle again.
Before his Mom could even say Good Morning Josh had wolfed down his pancakes.
"Woah, whats the rush? Oh the trip. Well et in the car I'll drive you."
Josh gulped down a glass of orange juice and nodded "Thanks Mom."
Before she could even turn around he was already in the car, with his stuff, ready. She smiled and shook her head. It was way better than watching him mope around all day.
When they got there most of the kids were already there. He got into his place, 7th in line. His Mom watched him for a while then asked, "Are you ok now, can I leave?"
"Sure Mom. Bye." Caroline resisted the urge to hug her son in front of everyone in risk of embarasing him even though, unknown to her that's just what he needed.
On the way out she noticed Mrs. Merendez, Felicity's Mother. They had met before on Open House. Not a bad person but a bit too upity for her taste. She almost had the whole thing cancelled having a fit over why they didn't have caviar.
The bus driver called "All aboared!" and everyone did. Josh ran in to get a window seat but it was already taken. Felicity sat there her long ebony draped over the seat cushion. Hey hazel eyes said "Give me a reason!".
He glumly slid into the outside seat and sulked.
Felicity thought about apologizing but, after looking at him, decided not to.
The teachers on the buses wre supposed to count the students but they both decided not to. A kid has never been lost on a trip before. What were the chances it would happen now? When asked if they had all their students they both answered yes, not knowing how big of a problem their mistake would later cause.