Field Trip: Colonial History

While Leah dreaded going to work when Thursday rolled around she knew that it was unlike most Thursdays--today was the last Thursday before Christmas Break. Or "Winter Break" as the PC police would call it in most school systems. Not only was it the last Thursday before the break though--it was the first big field trip of the year. At least, it was the first one she would get to go on. The 9th grade English students had already attended a play somewhere but now it was the senior class's turn--and the History department's chance to shine.

Leah didn't particularly like being a chaperone but it was certainly an easy day. It would mean making sure the students behaved, but teaching seniors meant most of them knew how to act well. Besides--the ones with behavior problems weren't allowed on the trip anyway. Leah checked her email for the itinerary of the field trip and double-checked the plans. Of course, they hadn't even been sent until near midnight the night before. Leah rolled her eyes. She read through the plan and she was soon ushering her homeroom class out the door.

"Let's go, everyone! Time to learn!" she said with a hint of excitement and sarcasm.

"Heck yeah!" one exuberant grade grubber yelled.

"I can't wait to get some fast food." One student--who didn't even need to eat fast food ever again stated.

"Just save some for us Tyler." one kid snickered, as the class generally erupted in laughter.

"Are they going to dress up a shoot the cannon Miss Williams?" one student asked as they headed toward the bus area.

"I think so, Nate. They do it every year." Leah said as she guided her students through the hall. Each year the event was pretty similar. They would go to a nearby Colonial-era location which had a forest, some fields, a park and picnic area, and a museum. There would be "living historians" who would dress up and present authentic portrayals of life in the colonial frontier era. Of course, there would be a demonstration of a musket and a cannon. A big crowd pleaser among the boys.

"My brother said they cook a squirrel right in front of you." one male student teased a female who was known to be a big-time animal lover.

"That's terrible! That like--can't even be legal Jaxxon. Is it Miss Williams?" the blonde girl cringed at the thought.

"Well, Mary-Kathryn," Leah said nearing the bus location "That is what they would have done back then."

"Ew, gross." the blonde student cringed, as the boys around her laughed and poked fun.

The buses were all lined up. Enough busses for the Senior class of Pleasant Plains High School. Dozens of students were still milling about and hadn't boarded a bus yet. A few groups were still straggling in. Mr. Howard and a few other admins were helping direct foot traffic. Mr. Howard found Leah with a grin.

"Good morning Miss Williams." he said with a smile as he played with his clipboard.

{if pl > 39} "Good morning Mr. Howard." Leah said, returning his smile. "What bus are we on today?" {endif}

{if pl < 40} "Morning." Leah said flatly. "So what bus is my class on?" {endif}

"You will be on bus 23." He said looking down at his clipboard and focusing "Mr. Cobbs will be your driver." A few of the students who heard Mr. Howard groaned. Mr. William "Bill" Booker Cobbs was one of the meanest bus drivers at Pleasant Plains High School. He didn't play around. Leah sighed with relief as she knew there would be little trouble from the students.

"Alright class!" Leah said in her teacher voice turning to address her students "Bus number 23!"

The students and Leah made their way down the line and found the bus. Leah double-checked the number and let her students load first. Then she stepped inside the bus's sliding doorway.

"Hey Mr. Bill." Leah said with a smile.

"Oh heya' Miss Williams." Mr. Bill replied with his thick African-American accent from the Deep South as he returned the smile.

"You ready to drive these hooligans today?" Leah asked as she moved up a few steps to look down the bus making sure her students weren't acting out.

"Ohhhh Yes ma'am. Even got me a new bus. Ain't that old cheese wagon. Got air con-ditionin' and everythin'. Oh Heya' Mr. Howard-" he stopped and looked down at where the bus door was open.

"Mr. Bill." the principal nodded.

"You ridnin' wit us?" the bus driver asked his hand on the door mechanism ready to close it if the principal stepped in or moved on.

"I sure am." he smiled at Leah like a wolf on the prowl.

"Come ahn in!" he motioned with his head. Mr. Howard moved up the stairs and ushered Leah to take a seat in an empty place. Leah slid into the classic two-person seat and Mr. Howard moved next to her.

"Don't mind if I join you I hope?" Mr. Howard moved slightly closer to Leah, pressing his leg against hers.

"Well I--" Leah was about to answer but the radio on Mr. Howard's hip squawked.

"All busses ready Kyle." the AP Kenning said in her nasal voice.

"Alright--copy that. Mr. Bill--lets roll." Mr. Howard shouted over the loud roar of the bus engine.

"Yessss 'sir!" he said the sound of someone who had snapped to attention before. Even if the classic boomer cliche Vietnam Veteran hat he wore hadn't given it away. One more reason the kids behaved on Mr. Bill's bus. He didn't "fight them gooks 'n tha' jungle to get treated wit no respec' back home." He was black, and a veteran so no one called him out on his overt hostility to Asians.

"How long is this ride again?" Leah asked. She had done it a few times but couldn't remember.

"Oh it's long enough to enjoy some time together to talk Miss Williams." He looked around as the bus had lots of students on it. Of course, most had filled into the back except the few loner types who were busy on their cellphones not paying attention.

Leah felt Mr. Howard's hand on her knee. He squeezed it gently, then put his hand between her thighs and moved it ever so slowly up toward her womanhood.