Bus Story

Gr 1–4—This animated short tells the story of a woman whose dream is to drive a bus. Its darkly comic aspects and the use of a few words that parents may object to might make it inappropriate for school showings. At one point, the woman's boss, Killer, calls out for his dog, Fatty. "Get your ass in here," he shouts. Later when the bus driver skids into a ditch off a snow covered road, Killer tells her, "S*** happens." The gruff boss seems devoid of tender feelings, so his transformation is touching and the heart of the story. The bumpy country roads on which the driver travels can be challenging, but even more daunting is parking the behemoth. After a parking mishap when a side mirror is demolished, Killer presents the protagonist with a package in what seems like a warmhearted gesture. Instead, it contains a replacement mirror. When she expresses her gratitude, he informs her that it costs $100, and it will come out of her pay. By the end, when Fatty is found dead after the snow melts, Killer rationalizes that she was old, leaving the viewers to wonder whether he suspects the truth—that the driver accidentally and unknowingly ran the dog over while parking the bus. Humorously drawn characters and banjo music enhance the story.