Derek, the school bus driver, always had a kind word for every child that stepped onto his bus, no matter how cold or miserable the weather was. It was a chilly morning when he opened the bus gate, the winds biting at his skin, and a crowd of bundled-up children rushed inside. Derek shivered, trying to keep his teeth from chattering.
“Get in quick, kids! This cold is killing me!” he called out, laughing through the shivers.
A little girl, wrapped up in her scarf, giggled as she climbed aboard. “You’re so silly, Derek!” she teased, making Derek smile even harder.
“You think so, huh?” Derek chuckled. “I wish my mom was still around to get me a scarf like yours. She would’ve gotten me the prettiest one ever!” He said, his voice playful.
“Oh, no! Mommy gets me the best scarves!” she said proudly, her face lighting up. “I’ll ask her to get one for you!”
Derek laughed, his heart warming. “Oh no, sweetheart, I was just kidding! Get in, get in. I gotta drive carefully today.” He waved her off, but his smile lingered.
Derek loved his job. The kids’ laughter, their innocent banter, and their endless energy were the highlights of his day. Despite the challenges he faced, especially with the low pay, Derek always kept a cheerful attitude. His wife, however, wasn’t as thrilled.
“You’re working for peanuts, Derek!” she would complain. “How are we ever going to pay the mortgage if you keep this up? We need more money!”
“I know, darling,” Derek would reply, his voice calm but filled with determination. “But I love this job. I promise, we’ll make it work. It’ll be alright.”
But when Derek was alone, after dropping off the kids, his cheerful façade would fade. He often wondered if kindness really paid off when the bills came piling in. But no matter how tough things got, he couldn’t shake his love for the kids and the job.
That particular morning, the ice on the roads made driving especially difficult. Derek was extra careful, not wanting to get stuck on the slippery roads. When he finally pulled into the school, he reminded the kids to be careful as they got off.
“Watch out for the ice, guys! Milly, be careful!” he called, keeping an eye on his young passengers.
Once they were all off, Derek had a plan: he was going to treat himself to a nice, warm coffee from the café across the street. It was the one thing he could look forward to in the freezing cold.
But just as he was about to step off the bus, he heard a soft sobbing sound. Confused, he looked towards the back of the bus and saw a small figure huddled in the last seat. It was a boy, his face hidden in his hands.
“Hey, kid, you alright?” Derek called out, walking over to him.
The little boy didn’t answer. His hands were hidden behind his back, his shoulders shaking. “What’s wrong?” Derek asked, kneeling beside him. “You gonna go to class?”
The boy finally looked up, his eyes filled with tears. “I’m just… cold,” he whispered, his voice cracking.
Derek felt his heart twist. The boy slowly revealed his hands, and Derek gasped. The boy’s hands were frozen, turning blue from the cold.
“Those are way too cold!” Derek said, immediately taking off his gloves and putting them on the boy’s hands. “I know they’re a little too big for you, but they’ll keep you warm.”
The boy looked up at him with wide, tearful eyes. “I don’t have gloves. Mommy and daddy said they don’t have enough money. They promised to get me new ones next month… but my old ones are ripped.”
Derek’s heart broke for the boy. “Don’t worry about it, buddy. I know a guy at the store who sells the best gloves. I’ll get you a new pair after school, alright?” He lied with a smile, not wanting the boy to feel bad.
The boy wiped his eyes and nodded, thanking Derek. As he exited the bus, Derek’s smile faded. He didn’t go to the café for his coffee. Instead, he walked to a nearby store, determined to help.
With his last dollar, Derek bought a pair of gloves and a warm scarf. He knew it would be tough until his paycheck arrived in a few days, but he didn’t care. He had to do the right thing.
When the boy got back on the bus that afternoon, Derek handed him the gloves and scarf. “These will keep you warm,” he said gently, his voice full of warmth. “Don’t worry your parents about it, okay?”
The boy’s eyes lit up with gratitude, and he hugged Derek tightly before leaving the bus. Derek stood there, his heart swelling with happiness.
Little did he know, this small act of kindness would soon come back to him in a way he never expected.
A few days later, Derek was summoned to the principal’s office. His stomach churned with nerves as he knocked on the door.
“Mr. Butler, you wanted to see me?” Derek asked, stepping inside.
The principal greeted him with a broad smile. “Please, take a seat, Derek. We have something important to discuss.”
Derek’s heart raced. Was he in trouble?
But when Mr. Butler spoke, his voice was full of gratitude.
“Derek,” he said warmly, “I’m sure you don’t realize this, but your kindness towards Aiden—giving him those gloves and that scarf—has meant the world to him and his family. You didn’t need to do that, but you did. It’s made a huge difference.”
Derek was stunned. “I just wanted to help,” he muttered, feeling the tears well up in his eyes.
“That’s not all,” Mr. Butler continued. “Aiden’s father is a firefighter who was injured on the job, and they’ve been struggling. The little things you’ve done have really lifted their spirits.”
Derek was speechless. But it didn’t stop there. Aiden’s family wasn’t the only one Derek helped. Two days before, he had left a box near the school’s front gate, filled with gloves and scarves. It was a simple box with a sign that read: “If you’re cold, take what you need. I’d appreciate it. — Derek, the school bus driver.”
The box had been a hit. Parents, teachers, and students had donated more, filling the box back up again. Derek’s small act of kindness had started something bigger.
The principal smiled. “We wanted to show our appreciation, Derek. You’ve made a difference, not just for Aiden, but for the entire school. And as a thank you, we’ve decided to raise your pay. We’re going to make sure your kindness doesn’t go unnoticed.”
Derek blinked, his mouth dry. “You don’t have to do that…”
But Mr. Butler insisted. “You’ve earned it, Derek.”
The next day, Derek was invited in front of the whole school, where he was applauded for his kindness. Parents, teachers, and students cheered as he stood there, his face flushed with humility.
Soon after, the school began a fund to help children from struggling families, and the initiative continued to grow. All of this started because of one pair of gloves, a scarf, and a bus driver with a big heart.
And from that day on, Derek knew that kindness was never wasted. Sometimes, it didn’t just change someone’s life—it changed the world.
What can we learn from Derek’s story?
Kindness doesn’t just make the world a better place—it spreads. Derek’s simple act of giving, without expecting anything in return, turned into something much bigger. By helping one little boy, Derek helped an entire community.
Sometimes, it’s the little things we do for others that come back to us in the most unexpected ways. What do you think of the story? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
