The whole class of Ms. Periwinkle’s second graders was buzzing with excitement. Today was their field trip to Farmer McGregor’s Pumpkin Patch! They were all packed onto the big yellow school bus, singing silly songs and pointing out cows in the fields whizzing by. Even normally quiet Emily was singing “The Wheels on the Bus” at the top of her lungs.
Suddenly, thump-thump-thump-sputter…silence. The bus lurched to a stop on the side of a long, dusty road.
“Uh oh,” said Ms. Periwinkle, a little nervously. “Looks like we’ve got a bit of a problem.”
Mr. Bumble, the bus driver, hopped out, popped the hood, and peered inside. A moment later, he emerged, wiping his brow with a big red handkerchief.
“Well, folks,” he announced, “looks like the old bus has decided she needs a little nap. Seems to be a problem with the…gizmo…that makes the…thumpy things work. I’ve called for help, but it might be a while before another bus can get here.”
A collective groan went through the bus. Pumpkin patches were best enjoyed right away, not while waiting for a tow truck!
“So, what are we going to do?” asked Alex, whose main interest was in the giant pumpkins.
Ms. Periwinkle smiled. “Well, we could be sad about the bus, or,” she said, clapping her hands together, “we could make the most of it! We’re in the middle of a beautiful field. Let’s have an adventure!”
At first, the kids were hesitant. They wanted pumpkins! But Ms. Periwinkle was good at making things sound exciting.
“Okay, adventurers,” she announced, “First, we’ll have a nature scavenger hunt! Who can find the most interesting leaf, the smoothest stone, or the biggest ant hill?”
The kids scrambled off the bus, suddenly energized. The field was full of hidden treasures! Sarah found a feather from a bluebird, Ben discovered a perfectly round ladybug, and Lily found a clover with four leaves!
Next, Ms. Periwinkle suggested they make up a story together. Each person would add a sentence, building on the one before.
“Once upon a time,” she began, “there was a magical pumpkin…”
The story quickly became wonderfully silly, involving a pumpkin that could fly, a squirrel who spoke in rhymes, and a giant lollipop tree.
Even Mr. Bumble, who was still fiddling with the bus engine, chuckled at their ridiculous tale.
Then, they started a sing-along. Ms. Periwinkle knew dozens of silly songs, and the kids made up their own verses about the broken-down bus and the grumpy-looking cows watching them from the field.
Emily even made up a new verse for the “Wheels on the Bus” song: “The bus on the side goes ‘sputter, thump,’ ‘sputter, thump,’ ‘sputter, thump!'” which had everyone in hysterics.
Finally, after what felt like a very long (but also very fun) time, another school bus appeared in the distance, kicking up dust.
“Hooray!” shouted the kids.
They piled onto the new bus, tired but happy. They might not have gotten to the pumpkin patch on time, but they’d had an adventure they would never forget.
As they drove away, looking back at the broken-down bus, Alex said, “You know, I almost wish the bus had broken down sooner!”
Ms. Periwinkle smiled. “Sometimes,” she said, “the best adventures are the ones you don’t expect.”
The pumpkins were fun, but they all knew that day that what they all learned that day and how everyone was together helping pass the time and have fun, are unforgettable!
