Ella, a seven-year-old with a mop of curly hair and wide, curious eyes, tugged on her favorite backpack straps. Her little brother, Max, stood by the door, one shoelace untied, clutching his lunchbox with both hands.
"Do you think the bus driver will let us sit together?"
"I hope so. I don't want to sit with someone I don't know," he whispered, glancing nervously at their mother.
Ella's heart raced as she reached for Max's hand. Other children, some older, some smaller, clustered in small groups or clung to parents.
"That's it. The big yellow bus," he breathed, eyes wide.
"It looks even bigger up close," Ella replied, stepping forward as the doors swung open with a creak.
Mrs. Jenkins, the bus driver with silver hair and a kind smile, greeted each child as they climbed aboard.
"Good morning! First time riding? Pick any seat you like,"
Max hesitated at the steps, eyes darting from Ella to the rows of unfamiliar faces. Ella squeezed his hand and led him past noisy clusters, settling into a seat by the window.
Max pressed his nose to the glass, watching mailboxes and dogs disappear behind them.
"Look, there's our house!" she pointed, giggling as it dwindled away.
"Everything looks different from up here," Max marveled, slowly relaxing as the bus wound its way through the neighborhood.
Ella[/@ch_1] and Max is soon occupied by Lily, a freckle-faced girl with a bright pink headband.]
"Hi, I'm Lily. Are you new? It's my first day too,"
"I'm Ella, and this is my brother Max. Want to sit with us?"
"Sure! My mom says the bus is a place for adventures," Lily grinned, plopping down beside them.
Max clung to his lunchbox, looking back at Ella and Lily as they followed the flow of students.
"Have a wonderful first day, everyone!" called Mrs. Jenkins, waving from her seat.
"Ready?" Ella asked, smiling.
"I think so. Especially if we can ride the bus home together," Max replied, a spark of excitement in his eyes as they stepped into their new adventure.
