As each Jaxon young'n waited for the school bus, they did what they would usually do during the school year. Violet, who is starting tenth grade gawked at her reflection in her flip phone, making sure every part of herself was presentable, even though it would never be. Violet, who is beginning eight grade, sat slumped in a lawn chair on the ground, reading a book, Ben, who would be staring kindergarten, his first year of school, sat coloring in a notebook with crayons, and Zeka, who is to start fifth grade sits on the porch, her legs hanging off and over the wooden fence-like crosshatching that supported the house, sloppily eats a granola bar.
"When is the bus coming?" Ben complains.
"Don't worry it's gonna be here soon," Violet assured her little brother.
"Ben, school is fun, it really is!" Zeka informed Ben, "you're really gonna like it."
"Speak 'a the devil, look what's here," Zika says sarcastically and rolls her eyes.
The bus pulls in right in front of where the Jaxon kids are sitting.
Zika stands up, throws the strap of her book-bag over her shoulder, slips her book inside, and makes her way toward the doors of the bus. Ben scoops up his things and catches up to her. Zeka and Violet follow. The doors the bus swing open. The same mean, old bus driver Miss McGee sits in front of the wheel.
"Uggh, the Jaxons," Miss McGee unhappily recognizes her passengers.
"Name and grade please," She says.
"Zika, eighth." Zika says impatiently.
"Ben, kinder." Ben says grumpily.
"Violet, ten." Violet says in her shallow teenager way.
Zeka differs from all of her siblings.
"Hi Miss McGee!" Zeka yells excitedly, "remember me, Zeka? I'm going into fifth grade." Zeka says with sincere happiness.
"Now, take a seat y'all, Miss McGee commands, not appreciative of Zeka's sincerity.
Zeka's siblings have already taken a seat when she steps into the aisle and takes an empty seat in front. She watches as the bus moves forward and her home turns to streaks of light in the distance.