Chapter Two
âSchool today, as usual. Off you go,â Mom said the next morning.
Katy Doyle, from the upstairs apartment, was in Jackâs class. She waited for the bus with him, as usual. So did Leah from the third floor. Today Leahâs tights were black and white squares. They reminded Jack of a checkerboard.
âWhen I grow up, Iâm going to buy my clothes where Leah does,â said Katy, as usual.
As usual, Leah didnât look at Jack or Katy. She just cracked her gum and stared at the sidewalk.
Jack didnât mind. He knew teenagers only had time for eight-year-olds when they babysat them.
Jack let Katy and Leah on the bus first. Then he let on the lady who carried her dog in a basket.
âLetâs get this show on the road,â said the bus driver.
âCome on, Jack,â said Katy. She waited for him on the top step.
âThis is my grandpaâs bus,â said Jack.
âI bet youâre Jack. Noddyâs grandson,â said the driver. âHe told us all about you.â
âThis is my grandpaâs bus,â Jack said again.
âHe died,â Katy told the driver in her helpful voice.
âIâm sorry about your grandpa,â said the driver. His voice was kind. But his hand was on the knob that closed the door. âHop aboard now. Letâs get this show on the road.â
âCome on, Jack,â said Katy.
Jack picked up his backpack and climbed on the bus.
Today, instead of sitting beside Katy, he sat behind her. He pressed his face against the window and watched the streets swim by.
Mr. Singh was sweeping the sidewalk outside his shop. He swept it every morning. A man carrying a briefcase and a tennis racket boarded the bus at the Rec Center. He caught the bus every day. A teenager with a skateboard and lots of tattoos loped up the stairs. He boarded like that every morning.
Everything was the same as usual.
Except Grandpa Nod was not driving.
If Jackâs grandpa had been driving bus Number 26, he would have said something special to everyone who got on. And he would have called Jack a candy name. Something like Double Bubble. Maybe Sen-Sen. Or perhaps his favoriteâJawbreaker.
This driver only grunted, âHello.â Or said, âLetâs get this show on the road,â if people took too long.
Jack and Katy got off the bus at school. Instead of saying, âSee you later, Jelly Bean,â the driver didnât say anything. He waited until Jack and Katy were safely down the steps. Then he closed the doors and drove away.
âWhoâs going to meet you after school now that your grandpaâs dead?â Katy asked as they walked into school.
âI have to catch the bus home with you,â Jack said.
âCool. How about you sit beside me this time?â
Instead of taking the bus home with Katy, Jack would rather have his grandpa meet him. When Grandpa Nod picked him up, he always checked if Jack had eaten his sandwich, apple and carrot sticks. Then he ate whatever was left as they headed to the park, the bird sanctuary or the river to watch the tugboats.
Sometimes they took the bus. Grandpa had a bus pass, so he could get on for free. He knew all the drivers. When Jack was with him, the drivers let Jack on the bus for free too.
But usually they walked. And Grandpa Nod would sing.
Jack walked into class. âGlad to see you back,â said Mr. Haworth.
âJackâs grandpa died,â Katy helpfully told everyone.
Jack went to his desk. He put his lunchbox inside it and waited for roll call.
Chapter Three
After school Katy said, âI just remembered. I have to stay and practice for the concert.â
âYou should have told me,â Jack said. âMom says eight-year-olds are too young to ride the bus alone.â
âYou wonât be alone, silly. It will be full of people. It always is after school.â
Jack waited and waited for the Number 26 bus. The Number 13
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