Solo rider on the bus back home!

I remember this distinctly, when I was in Class III and studying in Krishnaswamy Senior Secondary School in Anna Nagar, Madras. Madras was how Chennai was called back then. On a particular day, I took ill (may be fever) and had to be sent home immediately. Of course, those were days without a cell phone or even a landline at home (probably 1984-85). So how can I be sent home immediately? That was the predicament the school had. My class teacher communicated to school authorities to drop me back home. There is usually an office peon who has a bicycle to run errands. He was the first person to be contacted to see if he can take me back home. It seemed on that particular day, he had a prior commitment and hence the authorities discussed different alternatives to take me back home. Someone gave the idea, what about the school bus? Well, can we get Vasanth home in the school bus? The bus driver was available indeed but a whole big school bus just for a little boy...that seemed impossible. But someone thought it was a great idea and it was indeed what happened that day. I was taken back home in the school bus. I was of course the little boy all alone in the big school bus. I was not frightened, but rather felt like a king (even though I was sick). It is a rare distinction for someone to be taken back home like a king! Those at home saw the school bus coming right in front of our home in Anna Nagar and was quite taken back. Probably, even the neighbors then were wondering what was happening. The bus driver safely handed me off to my mother and then drove the bus back. I don't remember if I was taken to a doctor or not, but I often relate this experience to my family and we have a good laugh. Lot of pleasant memories of those wonderful days!