Here comes the sun, doot in doo doo, here comes the sun,
And I say it's all right
Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, doot in doo doo, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Little darling, the smile's returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes...
Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun,doot in doo doo, here comes the sun,
And I say it's all right
Here comes the sun, doot in doo doo, here comes the sun,
It's all right
It's all right
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It's astonishing how many memories comeback through various stimulation. The 5 senses hold a veritable data based filled with sophisticated references for us to search . Sometimes it's just one sense that triggers a memory, other times it can set up a chain reaction opening doors to the past from the present. Writing has added another dimension to my memory. At times it takes on a life of its' own, traveling down seemingly aimless paths only to lead me to a deeper layer and understanding of the original trigger and myself. I mention this in reference to the Smokey story. A whole new chapter has opened to me that after talking with my dad has honed a firm link to that period of my life. Both with the perception of being a child and as an adult viewing that child from afar. I imagine this dual perspective and understanding can possibly reconcile many a mystery. So enough of the paralysis through analysis. Let's get back to where we were. Since I was no longer welcome on the bus and still needed a ride to school, my dad offered to act as temporary chaufer till the suspension was lifted. Little did he know that this was just the beginning of the bus adventures. I remember it was winter time because of the snow and the smell of uncs' coat. Depending on how cold it was , I always had the option of waiting under his long wool overcoat. There was always a musky smell about unc. It wasn't until later that I learned it came from English Leather aftershave. So in the beginning of winter a very well bundled blackman waited with me at the end of the driveway for th ebus to come. One extremely cold morning other kids showed up to wait at my driveway too. It was the only one shoveled out because of unc. It wasn't long until we were all under unc's coat giggling and fooling around. I remember hearing the bus and its' door swinging open. The bus drivers' voice was angry "What's the meaning of this? why are you stopping a school bus.?" Unc as usual would say nothing which spoke volumes and then he opened his coat to let 3 or 4 kids to escape and board the bus. I remember hearing the bus driver apologise, but he like everyone else learned uncs' actions speak without words. The bus driver let me know to tell unc that he didn't mean to be rude. I remember saying " Honestly I doubt he paid you any mind to begin with, so don't sweat it. O.k.?" His answer struck me as odd "Do your parents know you talk this way?" I kept walking , but as it sank in the sound of what he said was off. I turned around and said " As far as you're concerned, he is my parent, if anyone should watch the way they talk it's you sir" I knew I shouldn't have, but I was not liking how outsiders were treating unc. So I put as unc would say " An extra smack of sass" in my tone, followed by one of his stares. They almost always turn away when I do it. This time was no different. Looking back I see why I didn't I exactly fit in this white waspy little community. My father is a first generation Jewish war veteran that escaped from Nazi Germany, my motherwas as far from Mrs. Cleaver as they get and unc who how shall I put it? Someone of vast worldly experience who didn't see the value of giving up even an inch of human dignity to those that haven't earned it. All passionate vibrant influences in my life who laid the foundation of all that is good in me. So let's return to the great social microcosm of the suburban school bus. I would compare it to a testing ground for anti-social behavior. The ride was at least 30 minutes to and from school. Cruelty and violence were the currency that was used on a daily basis. It grew worse with each passing year. I got picked on from day one and took many a beating. It wasn't until unc started noticing marks and bruises on me that things got bad. I thought he would be sympathetic and help me to cope with the injustices I was experiencing. Well it didn't quite work out that way. One day while waiting for the bus unc said " Listen boy, every time you come home with marks all over you I 'm going give you a whooping to make those bruises seem like love taps. You feelin' me?" In shock I nodded, no sooner did I get on the bus did some kid with a hard cover book, that I didn't see, wack me across the back of my head so hard I saw stars. Knowing unc kept his promises I jumped over the seat grabbed the kid in a headlock and pulled with one arm and punched with the other until my hand and shirt were full of blood and snot. The bus driver stopped the bus grabbed me and threw me into seat across the aisle and my head hit the window harder than the kid hit me. Well, when we got to school my parents were called and notified that until further notice I was no longer welcome on the public school bus. Well break my little heart, what would I do without all the warm comaroderie and friendship? I guess I would learn to manage somehow. It seems I misunderstood uncs' little message. He meant it as a deterant, I saw it as another threat of violence . It quickly became a lonely world from kindergarden on. I would ride to school in the morning with my dad. He would talk to me about pretty much anything I asked. From why the sky's blue to who was Hitler. He always gave me a well considered answer that usually raised more questions than they answered. I suppose this planted the seeds of intellectual curiosity in the reluctant soil of my mind. It was mid winter and school life had smoothed out since the Smokey incident. We were driving arond an "S" curve when my dad and the school bus hit. My dad swerved , but there wasn't room enough for these twp large vehicles to pass one another. My dad drove a big lincoln continental as did his father and his brother. I remember Abbey road playing on 8 track. The song was "Here Comes the Sun" what it should have said was watch out here comes the school bus doo da doo doo! So here I am uninjured in a crunched metal rectangle with the Beatles playing. My dad turns off the music and gets out. Him and the bus driver meet and circle each other like gun fighters waiting for the other to draw. I'm not sure who drew first, but words started flying like bullets. My dad is one of the bravest men I know, but he isn't a street fighter, this guy was. I get out and yell" Dad! Come here!" He turns and says " Jody wait I'll be right there." I repeat " Please dad, now somethings wrong!" Both him and the school bus driver come over he sees me and " Oh Jesus! its Shultz. Why am I not surprised?" The kids stick there head out the window and start the yelling " Hey look it's piss boy Shultz! Ha Ha !Hey Jody, you got your diaper on? ha ha!" My dad sees that it's not just his car that's getting damaged and says " Look I don't see any sense in placing blame, when the weather and these roads are sufficient cause to cause anyone to have an accident. Why don't we report it as a no fault incident. That way you won't have any blemishes on your driving record and my insurance won't skyrocket through the roof. I'll talk to the school and we can both tell the same story. It could be a win win as much as anything of this nature can be. If that sounds amenable to you." They both stand there the kids keep shouting" Hey old man Shultz.." The driver whips around and runs to the bus door and screams" One more word out of any of you and that's it you're off my bus." Regaining his composure he comes back to my dad saying" You know Mr. Shultz.." My dad stops him, reaches out his hand with his other on his chest and says" Julius, you can call me Julius. He responds smiling shyly" Oh? Danny is my name, I'm sorry we have to meet like this. These roads are dangerous. Look let me radio to a friend of mine so he can get a tow truck out here to help you." My dad can be so charming when he wants to "Butter wouldn't melt in his mouth" That's what my mother always says. My dad chuckles which is contagious and says " You know Danny I hadn't even thought that far ahead thank you very much. I guess I 'm a bit stranded out here with my son." Danny says " If you want I'll take Jody to school and nobody will say one bad word to him I promise." My dad responds " Would you mind telling Jody that, he's very scared of you." Laughing Danny say " Me? I'm just a big grouchy Teddy Bear that's what my wife says. Sure I'll talk to him hold on." Danny my dads new found friend radios his brother who owns a gas station and gets my dad a free tow. He walks over to me and taps on the window . I have the Beatles blasting to keep me entertained. I turn and lower the electric window and then the radio. I look up at him as innocent as a new born lamb. He says " Jody, look your dad and I talked if you want you can ride the school bus from now on and I promise you one will pick on you. If you promise me to sit right behind me so I can watch out for you. Anyway you can think about it on the way." He reaches for my books and I open the door, get out and take them back. Walking to the bus I turn around and run to my dad to hug him and say "You know dad , you were awesome back there. You will never know just how much this helped me at school. I love you" He pats me on my arm and says " That's nice, now go along to school." I turn and start to run and slip on the ice scuffing my knee. I get up and limp to the bus without even one heckle from the peanut gallery. Danny and my dad talk for a while more and write a bunch of stuff down. Meanwhile the kid next to me says " I'm Peter, I just moved here. You guys crashed right in front of my house . It was so cool." I smile and say " Hey Peter, I'm Jody glad to meet you." We talk all the way to school and he becomes my first friend in school. I didn't have another fight on the bus for at least a year. I did get kicked off again for lighting firecrackers and throwing them out the window until one bounced back in. That's a story for another time. Speaking of time it's late and my daughter has to get up early for school tomorrow. Thanks for all the support. Goodnight. Jody
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