Brace Yourself, Howie Day

As a kid in elementary school, almost any reason for an assembly was awesome. You had the choir kids come sing, fireman present fire safety while wearing a troll mask "Stop, drop, and roll troll," and the memorable classic bus safety experience. 

We gathered in the gym and listened to a speaker inform our young audience of the importance of school bus safety. Perhaps it was because it's mandatory, or there weren't enough field trips to keep the bus drivers busy. Who knows.... but what was important was implication and testing of the safety tips! 

All the kids in my grade walked out of the school and towards the bright yellow vehicle in the front of the school. We ushered our way into the bus and sat down.  The bus driver voice beamed from above as they instructed that we would be taking a drive around the neighborhood to practice the usefulness of "brace yourself." 

This practice helps keep you from flying forward in the event of an accident.  When a bus driver yells, "brace yourself," all the riders must cross their arms in front of themselves, and immediately put their head between the locked limbs. Does this actually prevent injury to riders? Who knows...

So the driver puts the bus into drive and within seconds the first line of command is given as the brakes are slammed. "BRACE YOURSELF!"  Many were not prepared, and they slammed into the seat in front of them. I am sure the bus driver maniacally laughed because this was their one chance to get revenge on the schoolchildren. We then moved forward and out onto the oak tree lined streets.  Giggles ensued from the students and teachers as we drove past my neighbors houses and continued practicing this ancient art of safety.  Our road trip came to an end as we pulled into the school parking lot, but the memory of bracing one's self will always abide whenever I ride a bus.