“Marvin! Sit up! Sit forward!”

Marvin’s head sprang up. “But Mr. Fontgale! You told me to—”

“Don’t you say a word, Marvin! This is life or death!”

“But where are we going? Ruby is afraid!”

Ruby was indeed afraid. It looked like she was barely breathing. Lawrence was distracted by her in the bubble rearview. She did have a perfect quality to her, didn’t she? That Marvin sure knew his gals.

Deborah was running down the aisle looking out the windows. The children were making more sounds like moaning than screaming and tugging on her sleeves, wanting recognition of their pain.  Deborah started hollering.

“Keep going! His automobile moves around the garbage so swiftly! It must be a collector’s item!”

Cans and garbage rocketed off the front of the bus, making a minefield of Trevor’s path. Marvin was screaming now.

“Mr. Lawgale!”

“Shut up, Marvin!”

“But it’s Ruby! I think she’s fainted!”

Ruby! Sweet and delicate Ruby! This all has gone too far. Lawrence turned and looked at Marvin. He gave him a nod.

“Take the wheel, Marvin. Now’s your time.”

“Oh boy!”

Marvin leaped to the front and into Lawrence’s seat. Marvin could not see over the steering wheel and reach the pedals at the same time. He stood on the gas pedal, then hopped up and steered, then stood on the brake when the bus started to slow. This created a sea-storm like motion to the bus, and several children vomited. Marvin had never been happier. Lawrence checked Ruby’s vital signs, a skill he learned early on at Diesel House, due to a large number of kids passing out from huffing fabric softener. She was fine. She had indeed fainted. That Marvin was right. Boy, what a perfect angel in his arms.

“I can’t see him anymore! I think he’s crashed! We’re safe, we’ve done it!” Deborah howled as she pranced down the aisle of the bus, leaping and dancing over the puddles of vomit.