Bundle of Nerves

She was a bundle of nerves standing at the bus stop that first day. Her nervous feet walking the letters S-T-O-P, then P-O-T-S, then back again. The bus pulled up. She looked back at her mom, who gave an encouraging nod and tiny wave. With one more tentative glance back, she followed the children in front of her onto the bus. The torn green seats were not as she expected. The bus driver did not look as she expected. She quickly took a seat by the window. There was a sudden “plump” beside her.

“Hi!” the ‘plumper’ said. “I’m Annie.”