The winter rains wreaked havoc on the dirt road going past our home. Growing up we had to get up early to do our chores, eat breakfast, get dressed and be ready for the school bus by 5:30 a.m. Much to our great joy as the school bus crossed the plank bridge the rear wheels sank into the mud. The driver tried to back up, then tried going forward all to no avail. He was stuck in the mud. We watched in amazement as he kept going forward then back. He sank the rear tires deeper and deeper into the reddish brown muck of the dirt road.
Finally, the bus driver got out and stood there staring at the tires axle deep in the mud. I ran inside to get Daddy. He joined the bus driver and my sisters and I watched in anticipation as they both stood there pondering what to do next.
The neighbor from across the creek walked down to join the bus driver and Daddy, and now all three were pondering what to do. Often pondering can take a while and so we stood there waiting as the pondering cycle ran its course. All of the kids on the bus had to get out and trek through the mud toward our front porch. Momma made hot chocolate and ham biscuits. All eyes were on the pondering adults.
Finally, the trio jumped into action. Our neighbor pulled his tractor in front of the bus and hooked up a large silver chain to the bus. Daddy got logs from our woodpile and placed them in front of the tires and made a track for the tires to cross. The bus driver got back on the bus and slid behind the wheel. Our neighbor started the tractor and began pulling. Smoke came from the tires as they spun on the logs, but slowly bit by bit the bus moved forward out of the mud. We all loaded onto the bus, our adventure at an end, and headed off to school.
I bet you had fun watching the delima of the bus stuck in the mud. Must of been a lot of pondering going on to have time to make those biscuits and hot chocolate. And you were all probably late to school.
I always cherished that memory. We loved watching the process.
Larry, I was thinking all the kids may have hoped that they’d miss school that day. But then life in the country was such that if they did not go to school, they’d have had to do chores. I wonder which they’d have preferred on that day?
Larry, you spun a good tale (forgive the pun 🙂 and you kept my mind jumping with vivid imagery about the bus being stuck in the mud and then pulled out by the tractor. I kept hoping it would take all day so the kids could miss a day of school. It must have been a let-down to be in class after the excitement of the morning! Great analogy on how we carry things of great value in business and in life but we sometimes get stuck in the mud. That happened to me recently and it felt like I stayed stuck for almost 3 months. I keep beavering away and finally made it through, after 5 major attempts. It was tedious and painful but now I’m so glad I persisted. Thanks for the fun read. I had no trouble imagining the scene as you painted it.
Thank you Milli that means a lot coming from you